We have a ‘situation’ here

The dating world’s newest trend, ‘situationship’ seems to be gaining popularity among millennials; experts tell us everything you want to know

Millennials have been known to do a lot of things differently from the accepted norms in society. Dating is one of the most prominent fields where people from this generation have changed trends. One such new trend is called a situationship, which is becoming common these days among millennials.

So, what exactly is this new trend? “A situationship is a kind of relationship where you are more than a ‘friend with benefits’ with a person. The only thing missing here is the label or the tag,” says relationship counsellor Shyam Mithiya. In a situationship, you are attached to your partner, but there is no label to your bond. Relationship expert, Kinjal Pandya, says that this is a bond where the partners are never committed. She says, “Each partner should be aware that he or she is not in a relationship in this kind of a setup. The dangerous aspect here is when one gets emotionally involved. This is when the bad side of this relationship starts.”

REACTIONARY MODE

Are there any repercussions in such a relationship if one gets emotionally attached? Pandya says, “It depends from person to person. The role that your personality plays in this kind of a bond is important. Not everybody has the same emotional strength. It is possible that the emotionally weaker partner may get into substance abuse and other harmful stuff if he or she gets emotionally attached and the other partner doesn’t.”

ESCAPING REALITY

Situationship could also be a way of running away from your everyday problems, and Pandya agrees. She says “Of course, it’s a form of escapism. People who are scared of commitment favour such relationships. Situationship doesn’t mean that both of you are in it only for the physical attraction. This comes later. Initially, you are emotionally inclined to your partner. The physical aspect comes when you start having a comfort level with a person. It is not an emotionless relationship, but. it’s the emotion that brings and holds two people together in such a bond. There is something deep that you feel in such relationships for that person. But, somewhere down the line, you are either not prepared or you don’t have the confidence to get into a commitment.”

Getting emotionally attached to someone, who is not attached to you, is never easy. So, what should you do if you are in a situationship? Mithiya says that communication is the key here. He says, “You must talk about your expectations and get clarity. Once you find out what the other person feels, the ideal way is to distance yourself if it gets too overwhelming for you.” Mithiya adds, “If one person is getting attached, the partner in such a bond tries to drift away. This is a sign that the bond may end.”