Relationships are always complex, though it were simpler in older times. In modern times, what makes or breaks a relationship is different from what we used to believe. The digital world has changed what relationships look like. For example, these days dating is a more normal and a ‘necessary’ idea before two people decide on anything. Today, there are terms used to describe certain behaviors when two people are seeing each other.
Let’s have a look at such terms
Ghosting
Ghosting is a common term in today’s relationships. It refers to abruptly ending all communication in a new relationship. A person ghosting another means not contacting the other person in any way, leaving the other person confused and wondering where it all went wrong.
Ghosting happens suddenly and indicates that a person wishes to end their relationship. Psychologists say ghosting is an act of cruelty that makes one feel abandoned emotionally. It is better to end relationships straightforwardly when you realize you’re being ghosted.
Haunting
Haunting is when a potential partner from the past attempts to return without warning. It is done indirectly by reaching out via social media like Instagram. It often catches one by surprise. Remember, when someone genuinely wants to reach out, they would rather call or text you rather than show up abruptly socially.
Submarining
Similar to ghosting, a potential partner attempts to resurface completely. A ghoster often reaches out vis text, without an apology, and acts as though nothing happened. While a submarine tries not to make mistakes to form a connection again.
Zombieing
A zombie is a ghost who comes back to someone’s life after months or years of ghosting, in an attempt to rekindle the relationship. They are manipulative to make you think they’ve changed and they didn’t mean to ghost originally but it is advised not to fall for it.
Orbiting
Orbiting is a new form of ghosting. With social media, partners from the past don’t disappear. They orbit around social media and monitor everything new in your life after your break up with them. It means having a constant eye on what you’re up to without having any intention or even trying to reconnect.
Breadcrumbing
Breadcrumbing means leaving proverbial indications that might lead to someone thinking that you like them, usually on text, call, or chatting on social media. This term comes from the old German fairytale, Hansel and Gretel. It involves playing games, indirect words, and genuine gestures indicating the intention to form a real relationship.
Benching
Benching in today’s relationships describes the act of having a genuine interest in someone in the past for whatever reason but it was the right person at the wrong time. Someone might bench a person, who showed interest in the past, because they feel they were not ready then to be in a real relationship. It can also happen vice versa. It might involve some breadcrumbing.
Situationship
A situationship is when two people being in a romantic relationship out of convenience or any interests not involving serious feelings for each other. It makes communicating easier when two people are living in close proximity. A situationship might end due to reasons of any one of the two people moving away.
The slow fade
A slow fade happens with time. It is when one of the two people in a relationship pulls away. They draw themselves away from the other instead of having a direct difficult conversation to end the relationship. It leaves deeper cuts emotionally. It is common in new relationships as a way of slowly ending things.
