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It’s easy to give relationship advice; following it, however, can be a real nightmare because one wrong move can lead to heartache and heartbreak. But whatever your stance about relationships, two things are for sure—they’re a lot of work and we have a lot of illusions about love.

The members of the r/AskReddit community shared their hard-to-swallow pills about relationships in a candid thread started up by user AsontiRelay. The thread, which got 38.7k upvotes and a whopping 7.7k comments, might just give you a fresh (and more honest) perspective on romance. As you’re scrolling down, upvote the answers that you agree with and be sure to share your own perspective below.

Harsh truths that lead to better communication? Emotional opinions that are too cynical? It's up to you to decide, dear Pandas.

#2

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Al Jones
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep. The very worst thing you can do to fix a relationship is to have kids. Think you're arguing a lot now? Think again.

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Bored Panda spoke about romance, dating, and what to do if somebody is sitting on the fence about breaking up with relationship expert Dan Bacon, the founder of The Modern Man. According to Dan, what a person ought to do if they’re in such a situation is unique for everyone.

However, Dan suggested that if you’re considering breaking up with someone to analyze what the reasons behind this might be. “It really depends on why you are on the fence about breaking up. If you’re temporarily feeling that way after a fight, or a problem that occurred in the relationship [or if] you feel that way all the time, or very often.”

#4

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WilvanderHeijden
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Spread the word. Your ominous silence may look powerful to you, but in fact it's annoying. If you got something to say, say it. Don't expect other people to read your mind.

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Sum Guy
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree with this partially... sometimes having a partner means you don't have to deal with all your emotional s**t. Half the reason we go to therapy is just to talk, not get advice but to get things off your chest, and good partners do that for each other

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According to dating expert Dan, there’s absolutely no need to break up with your significant other, girlfriend, or boyfriend if your feelings about going your separate ways are temporary. In short: if the problem can be resolved, it’s best not to take any rash decisions.

In fact, there’s a silver lining to having disagreements with the person you love (or, let’s be honest, the person who you might fall in love with in the future). Solving problems, both small and big, can benefit the relationship! Overcoming hardships and challenges can lead to greater intimacy in the future.

#7

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Daria B
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Especially when they decided to stop trusting you for something you really didn't do, but they firmly believe you did. Been there. It's as bizarre as it sounds.

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Foxxy (The Original)
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3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree, I know I can be, especially since I have anger problems and am a reactive person. I am working on it.

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“You need to understand that overcoming problems together as a couple can make you closer, stronger, and more committed if you approach it correctly,” relationship expert Dan told Bored Panda in an interview.

#10

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Kno
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you have to control them and make sure they don't cheat.... find someone else. Or accept an open relationship and quit calling it cheating. Loyalty is implied, not optional, unless otherwise discussed. If the relationship stops working, then maybe grow up a little and accept its end before either of you reaches the cheating part.

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Foxxy (The Original)
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You will never find that perfect partner that does nothing annoying. I have behaviours and quirks that are annoying to my hubby and vice versa.

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According to the expert, when both people in a couple are supportive of each other, they both grow from the experience. What’s more, there has to be a certain amount of trust between both people: you need to trust that your partner has good intentions, even if you’ve recently been arguing.

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TrisHCL20
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yup I stayed with narcissistic ex way past that relationship's expiration date.

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Kno
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't see how this is a hard truth. It's simply the truth. We all need help sometimes, and we need to lean on someone. Sometimes it's good to be given that trust to support someone.

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However, things are different if you constantly think about breaking up or if you’re always feeling horrible after spending time with your partner. That’s when you need to consider the fact that this person might not be your soulmate and might need to move on. However hard that might be.

#17

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Winx
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This might be the hardest truth. If the feeling isn't there, it isn't there, no matter how good of a person you both are.

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Raine Soo
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My ex-boyfriend and I fell out of love with one another. It was certainly no picnic when the resentment started to build up.

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“If wanting to break up is a feeling that you have all the time, or very often, then that person isn’t the one for you,” relationship expert Dan explained. In his opinion, good relationships have to be unambiguous—if you’re flip-flopping between radically different feelings toward your partner on a regular basis, there might be something off.

#21

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Brittany
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In my case, he's even better now, than I could ever imagine. I would've never picked someone like him.

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“When a couple love each other and truly want to be with each other for life, they won’t be on the fence about it,” Dan said. “It will be as clear as day for them that they want to be with each other and no-one else, so breaking up won’t even seem like an option to them.”

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Wendillon
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Communication IS the key to comprehension though. The whole "oh you wouldn't understand" trope has probably broken more relationships than we can count.

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nikita-joy Hendricks
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is so true. I always said i would never date a short guy.. After 4 years of getting played by what i though my ''type'' was I finally found someone that appreciates me and guess what his average height. Sometime we miss out on something amazing because of our own prejudices.

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The relationship expert continued: “It will almost seem laughable because they know they wouldn’t want to be with anyone else as much as they want to be with each other.” In other words, a strong couple is one that doesn’t entertain the idea of leaving one another over some minor disagreements.

#25

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Wendillon
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If anything relationships are going to make managing a mental illness more complicated. Yes you have added support now, but you also have added stress.

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“If they happen to have an argument or experience a problem in the relationship, they might temporarily feel a bit annoyed at each other, but they’ll both be willing to fix it, grow and make the relationship better from then on,” Dan said.

“That’s what the happiest, most in love couples do,” he added.

#28

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Mrs_ Possum
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And it's how the screw-ups are dealt with that's important. You can learn a lot about someone by how they act in the difficult times.

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#29

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Mewton’s Third Paw
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was right person, wrong time with my partner. We met like 7 years before we reconnected and started dating.

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What about you, dear Pandas? What hard-to-swallow truths about relationships would you like to share with us? What’s the best advice about love and romance you’ve ever heard? We can’t wait to hear what you think, so write up a comment and post it below!

#31

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Susan Green
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Putting off ending things for the fear of the other person hurting you (physically) is the worst possible idea.

#33

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

10000% if your not in love then separate before jumping to the next person. NO excuse for cheating.

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Shouldn't go into a relationship with a goal to change the person. You should appreciate them and love them for who they are. Only the individual can change themselves if they choose, no one else can do it for them.

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Mrs_ Possum
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, there are no hard-and-fast guarantees, and sometimes things will come up that you have not planned for. But I think it is important to get the "big conversations" sorted early on, for example, do you both want kids or not. You don't want to end up disagreeing over something like that once you've already committed to each other, IMO.

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El Dee
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, I had this one and didn't realise. Constant feeling in the pit of my stomach and couldn't put my finger on why. Took me awhile to figure out exactly where the problem was. But my SO was nowhere near as committed to a relationship as I was and would change plans/bail at the last minute constantly - always with a 'very good reason' But eventually it just didn't sit right and I had to end it..

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Mrs_ Possum
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm not sure I'm understanding this one correctly... Are they disputing that soulmates exist, or saying that you should wait to meet someone who IS your soulmate and not settle for someone who you "just get along with" ?

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Foxxy (The Original)
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wholeheartedly agree, and that is just one reason why I think no sex before marriage is a terrible idea.

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Mrs_ Possum
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But this is the same throughout life, no? Friends have arguments, families fall out, work is not sunshine and roses every single day, even if you love your job. I don't know why people would think that relationships are any different. After all, most people probably spend more overall hours with their partners than with their friends/parents/siblings/colleagues, etc. There's bound to be the odd difficult phase.

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El Dee
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It takes two people to make it work, takes two to make it fail. You might feel like you could have done better but so could they. Don't take the blame onto yourself fully, half of it's theirs'

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R D
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And then its how you deal with the situation after, that really matters.

#44

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Celeste Grant
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is so true. The two of you should make the rules for your relationship and no one else has to understand or agree with them.

#45

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Rens
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I got my cat before I met him so that would never be an issue.

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Mewton’s Third Paw
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I expect my partner to grow and change constantly or the entire point of my relationship would be fully lost. The whole point is to grow together.

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Mewton’s Third Paw
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lol yeah a big fight can definitely happen even in the best of times. Someone else here keeps saying “it’s all how you deal with it” (sorry can’t remember who). I agree with them tho

#49

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Ozacoter
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I prefer the "normal" moments of having dinner together or watching tv/ gaming in the sofa.

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lenka
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Disagree with this. Love doesnt just stop overnight for no reason. If you think it did, then you haven't been listening or paying enough attention to your relationship.

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I want cake
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Anyone who believes they should be happy 24/7 needs a lot of therapy. To be honest, most people could do with a bit of therapy.

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Ozacoter
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also be aware that dry spells can happen. Mental and physical health will affect your sex activity. If you arent willing to go through that you shouldnt commit

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Mewton’s Third Paw
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can’t believe this is at the bottom but I also can. Because so so so many people give up when they argue. Like commitment doesn’t exist. I’m glad I’m not that way.

#56

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Ozacoter
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thats terrible. Like when you arent your best friends best friend :(

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Ozacoter
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah. I hate the trope in sitcoms where the husband buys a very expensive item (usually a car) without consulting his wife. It might be his money but now you are a team and this thungs should be spoken.

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I disagree, it may happen to some but I have not had a crush since I started dating my hubby over 18 years ago.

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lenka
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nope. In a good healthy relationship it's going to be better, much better.

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Mewton’s Third Paw
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nobody needs to value it but you and your partner! The happier you are together, the more suspicious and jealous people will be anyway.

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Wendillon
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not necessarily. Why should someone need to settle if they don't want to? Not everyone wants a long term relationship in their life and that's okay as long as you're transparent about it with potential partners.

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Rens
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't think this would have been the case for us. We'd both decided to give up on the dating scene and accepted that we'd be alone.

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Wendillon
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or to walk away when the change becomes something that shouldn't be adapted to.

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Wendillon
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most yes, but there are a small percentage of relationships that don't have that "goodbye" since both partners die together.