Affection is Needed in a Healthy Relationship

The honeymoon phase is great. You and your significant other are beginning to learn about each other, you’re anxious to see him/her all the time, and you get that warm fuzzy feeling in the pit of your stomach whenever they lay eyes on you. It’s all sunshine and rainbows for the first couple of months, but what happens after the honeymoon stage is over? Should all the affection that was once displayed be gone as well?

Affection is definitely important when it comes to expressing it to your partner, whether it’s been three months or three years. It lets the other person know that you still care and that you are one hundred percent invested in the relationship. Affection shouldn’t just be shown at the beginning of one’s relationship, it should be shown all the time, regardless of how long the relationship is.

Affection gives your significant other reassurance. Without it, the other person might start to feel doubt or even insecure because they sense signs of feelings fading from their girlfriend/boyfriend. They start to think, “If he/she isn’t expressing affection to me anymore am I worth it? Did I do something wrong, can I be better?”  A person shouldn’t be feeling this way if they’re in a relationship and no one deserves to be in one that lacks affection.

Relationships are built from affection, without it what do you have? Even friendships need some sort of affection. Relationships need that devoted, warm, sentiment feeling. It could be as simple as holding their hand, unexpectedly brushing their hair to the side, or a random hug. Anything that basically shows you still care and want to continue to be committed in the relationship.

According to Psychology Today, affection is the number one reason couples seek therapy. Couples don’t take into consideration that many of their dilemmas often start with no affection. Of course, many relationships fail for other reasons as well, but it’s important to understand that affection is extremely important. It’s the foundation of a relationship.  

If you bring up the fact that you’ve been noticing lack of affection from your significant other, and they respond with, “I’m just not that type of person to express affection” and you know that they’ve shown it earlier in the relationship, then it’s best to consider ending the relationship Affection shouldn’t be forced, it should come naturally.

It is tough accepting the fact that someone has lost feelings or lost that affection they once expressed to you, but a relationship without affection is nothing. If you’re in a relationship and notice your significant other lacking affection, don’t ever think it’s your fault or there’s something wrong with you. They’re simply not worth keeping around romantically.