18 tipos de relaciones (y cómo manejar cada una)

You’ve spent a significant amount of time in your life figuring out dating and romance. Truth be told, this has been one of your primary concerns ever since your teenage years. Well, you’re not alone.

But is it possible that you never got to the bottom of your love life because you had no idea how many types of relationships there are? Yes, there is much more out there than the patterns that you’re used to.

¿Cuáles son los tipos de relaciones? ¿Cómo reconocer cada uno de ellos? Y lo más importante: ¿cómo manejarlas de la mejor manera posible?

We’ve got you covered. Here are the answers to all of these questions and more.

Co-dependiente

¿De qué se trata?

Many people see this kind of interpersonal relationship as normal and typical; the truth is that it’s anything but healthy.

Basically, when you’re in a relación codependiente, you don’t love your partner the right way – you just think you do.

In fact, you’re addicted to them. It’s normal for your partner to play an important role in your life, but it’s much worse than this in your case.

You’re obsessed with their presence in your life, and everything they do or say affects you.

Con el tiempo piérdete completely. Your primary goal in life is to keep this person by your side because you’re convinced that you would literally die without them.

¿Por qué no es saludable?

No, this is not romantic, and it’s certainly not the way a romance saludable should look. I hate to break it to you, but you’re a novia pegajosa or boyfriend if you’re codependent.

You have no self-sufficiency, no autonomy, and no life outside of your relationship. Truth to be told, you’re unable to express any type of emotion that doesn’t concern your partner.

You don’t care what happens in the world outside of your intimate relationship, as it’s the only thing that really matters to you.

Sufres de falta de autoestima y vives con el miedo constante de que tu pareja se aleje de ti.

With time, you develop serious abandonment trauma. Your entire world revolves around this person – they give you meaning and make you fulfilled.

Without them, you’d be utterly lost, and your existence would be pointless. At least, this is how you feel.

Lo peor es que tu novio o novia permite tu obsesión. Disfrutan con el hecho de que dependas de ellos, aunque probablemente nunca lo admitirían.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have stayed with you so long, would they? The truth is that the other party enjoys the emotional control they’ve managed to impose on you.

This is the only way for them to feel relevant. Your behavior serves them as an ego boost, and that’s the only reason they keep you around.

Independiente

¿De qué se trata?

Lo contrario de una relación codependiente es una relación independiente. Al principio, puede que veas a las parejas independientes como cualquier cosa menos verdaderas parejas, ya que rara vez siguen los patrones tradicionales de las relaciones.

Uno se los imagina viviendo vidas completamente separadas y, para algunas personas, incluso podrían parecer extraños. Sin embargo, esto dista mucho de la realidad.

You see, when you’re in an independent relationship, you remain the person you were before meeting your loved one.

However, this doesn’t mean that you’re not subject to personal growth and improvement.

It’s just that neither of you changes the essence of their beings just to please the other person. Even though you’re in a relationship, you keep the life you had before your partner.

Yes, you two meet halfway on some things – that is completely normal. However, you still have your goals, career, friends, family relationships, and hobbies.

Now you’ve just found someone to accompany you on this journey called life. You’ve found someone who won’t try to mold you and who won’t do anything to endanger your individuality.

¿Qué hace que sea una relación sana?

Lo mejor de esta relación es que you don’t actually need your partner – you’ve just chosen to be with them.

Of course, you would miss them if they were gone. You would grieve their absence, but your world wouldn’t stop spinning if that happened.

You don’t depend on them financially, emotionally, or in any other way. Their departure wouldn’t mess up your life too much, and it certainly wouldn’t significantly reduce its quality.

This might sound harsh, but in this situation, you both put yourselves first. It doesn’t mean that you don’t love your boyfriend or girlfriend – you just love yourself more.

Trust me: this doesn’t make you selfish. It only shows that you’re both mature and have the capacity to look at things realistically, without feelings included.

Te guste admitirlo o no, tu amor podría desvanecerse algún día. Podríais separaros.
And if that happens, what remains? Well, you’ll be left alone with yourself.

You’ll be left with the life you’ve built outside of your romance, so it better be a good one.

Activo/pasivo

¿Cómo funciona?

The title says it all: in this relationship, there is a clear difference between an active and a passive partner. I’m sure you’ve seen tons of relationships, especially marriages like this.

I’m talking about the ones where, for example, a wife/mother is in charge of basically everything. She does the cooking, the cleaning, and other chores.

She is the one responsible for the children’s upbringing, and the one everyone consults with before making a life-changing decision.

Por otro lado, el marido se deja llevar por la corriente. La mayor parte del tiempo, es un espectador pasivo ante los miembros de su propia familia.

He has no interest in how the kids are raised, where they will go on their next vacation, or what they’ll have for lunch. This man’s only responsibility is to go to work and bring money home.

El resto del día se tumba en el sofá, ve la tele y se comporta como un auténtico parásito. Por supuesto, las cosas pueden ir en ambos sentidos, y esto es sólo un ejemplo.

¿Por qué es insostenible?

However, an active/passive relationship doesn’t always have to be this obvious – sometimes you don’t even realize that your relationship struggles with this kind of dynamic.

En la mayoría de los casos, la pareja activa es la que lleva toda la relación a sus espaldas, de un modo u otro.

At the end of the day, they’re the ones keeping it alive, while the other person just tags along.

La razón por la que este tipo de relaciones son más habituales de lo que se cree es que los polos opuestos se atraen.

Cuando se conocen por primera vez, la parte pasiva calma a la activa. Por otro lado, la parte activa aporta la excitación que el pasivo echa de menos.

However, as soon as the initial butterflies are gone, you face trouble in paradise. The active partner starts to feel overwhelmed while the passive one can’t handle the pressure.

Dominante/sumiso

¿De qué se trata?

Muchas personas cometen un error al pensar que activo/pasivo y dominante/tipos de relaciones sumisas son la misma cosa. Sin embargo, lo cierto es que difieren en muchos aspectos.

Just because you’re an active partner doesn’t make your boyfriend or girlfriend submissive.

You might be louder, more capable, or even more aggressive when it comes to your common interests, but that doesn’t mean that the other person is automatically compliant.

Al oír estos términos, lo primero en lo que probablemente piense es en el dormitorio.

Bueno, la relación dominante/sumisa es mucho más que eso, y tus actividades entre las sábanas son en su mayoría sólo una parte de ella.

A submissive partner has no say in and out of the bedroom, and all control is in the hands of the dominant one. They’re the one who governs both of your lives in all of its aspects.

A primera vista, la pareja dominante lo tiene mejor en este tipo de dinámica de poder. La verdad es que tienen muchos más derechos.

Nevertheless, their responsibilities are bigger, as well. It’s their duty to protect their esposa sumisa o marido, para cuidarlos en todo lo posible y guiarlos por la vida.

They’re in charge of the entire decision-making process in the relationship and, therefore, take all the blame if something goes wrong.

¿Puede tener éxito?

Para la mayoría de la gente, una dinámica de poder dominante/sumisa es lo peor que existe. Sin embargo, algunos disfrutan de su superioridad y a otros les encanta ser obedientes.

So, if it works for them – who are we to judge?

Ten en cuenta que hay una gran diferencia entre un romance en el que ambas partes están de acuerdo con esta configuración y una relación en la que esta lucha de poder es forzada.

If you’re a submissive partner, you’re not your loved one’s slave, nor are they your master.

Lo más importante es que puedes y debes poner fin a este juego en el momento en que empiece a incomodarte.

Platónico

¿De qué se trata?

I’m sure you heard about this kind of relationship. It was named after the famous philosopher Plato. With time, the concept has been modified, although the source idea has remained the same.

En una relación platónica, tú y tu pareja compartís profundas emociones el uno por el otro.

You’re committed to making your romance work; you share the same values, common interests, and you plan a future together.

Sin embargo, no hay nada físico entre ustedes dos. It’s not that you just don’t sleep together – there is also no touching and kissing. Basically, there is no physical attraction and chemistry.

Esto puede sonar extraño o incluso imposible para citas modernas but trust me – a lot of people choose this relationship as something that suits them best.

Para estas parejas, la intimidad es mucho más que satisfacer sus impulsos primarios. Se centran en otras cosas, como formar un vínculo más profundo y fuerte y convertirse en la mejor versión posible de sí mismos.

¿Qué puede salir mal?

Suena demasiado bien para ser verdad, ¿verdad? Bueno, lo cierto es que no mucha gente consigue que este tipo de relación funcione.

Whether we like to admit it or not, we all have needs that we can’t control.

This is why these relationships fail in most cases: one of the partners finds the passion they’re lacking back home and realizes that this is not how they can continue living.

Friendzone

However, please don’t mistake friend-zoning for a platonic relationship. Theoretically, they’re similar, but not the same.

En ambos casos, hay dos personas que son amigas y, en cierto modo, comparten una vida en común, pero no hay nada físico entre ellas.

Nevertheless, when you’re in a platonic relationship, you both agree to these terms. Por otro lado, una friendzone significa que una persona tiene sentimientos no tan platónicos por la otra.

They would never choose to be platonic if they had the chance – they are just left with no other choice.

Al mismo tiempo, en la mayoría de los casos, la otra persona no tiene ni idea de sus sentimientos y no le ve más que como un amigo.

Temporal

¿Cómo funciona?

When you start a new relationship, you don’t know where it will take you or how long it will last. But every time, you hope that this is the real deal.

You don’t think about the end, nor do you plan a break-up now that everything is going smoothly. At least, this is how things usually work. Well, with a relación temporal...todo es diferente.

From the very first day, this romantic relationship has an expiration date. You know it’s not permanent, and you don’t give your entire self to it.

You don’t plan your future with this person, you don’t introduce them to your friends and family, and you don’t share your deepest thoughts and feelings with them.

Officially, they’re your boyfriend/girlfriend, but they’re not your life partner.

You might be moving out of town in a couple of months but don’t want a long-distance relationship. Or you’re not ready to share your life with someone else but don’t want to be alone either.

¿Cuándo no es saludable?

No hay nada malo en los romances temporales con una condición: que ambos estéis de acuerdo con los términos de vuestra relación. Lo peor que puedes hacer es dar falsas esperanzas a tu pareja.

Lamentablemente, en la mayoría de los casos, este tipo de relaciones sólo se consideran temporales para una de las personas. Para ellos, este romance tiene fecha de caducidad, mientras que el otro no tiene ni idea.

O simplemente la otra parte se niega a aceptar las cosas como son. Ahí están, haciendo planes y esperando que todo cambie en el futuro.

Se ven a sí mismos yendo hacia el altar con la persona que los ve como un solución temporal en lugar de una solución permanente. En este caso, este romance es insano, tóxico y, lo más importante: injusto.

Evasión

¿De qué se trata?

Por desgracia, hoy en día cada vez más personas se ven envueltas en una relación de evasión sin ni siquiera saberlo. En pocas palabras, se trata de un romance entre dos personas que evitan cualquier tipo de intimidad.

But I’m not referring to physical intimacy this time. I’m talking about real conexión emocional.
A menudo, estas personas han sido heridas en el pasado.

Consequently, they’ve built strong walls around their hearts. They’ve become overly careful, and their worst fear is of being hurt again.

So, they act as if they’re heartless since they’re convinced it’s the only way to protect themselves from going through the same hell once more.

Estas personas no están disponibles emocionalmente, y eligen conscientemente parejas con las que pueden tener una relación de tipo evasivo.

The avoidant person doesn’t include their boyfriend/girlfriend in their life, they refuse to open up completely, and they never give them their whole heart.

Instead, they’re constantly on the lookout. They avoid any situation that might reveal their vulnerabilities and force them to lay down their shield.

Tienen problemas de confianza muy arraigados y están dispuestos a huir en cuanto ven que la otra persona se ha acercado demasiado.

Negligencia emocional

El problema de estas relaciones es que el otro miembro de la pareja casi siempre acaba sintiéndose desatendido emocionalmente. At first, you think that you’ll tear down your loved one’s walls with time.

However, despite all of your attempts, that doesn’t happen. You end up feeling unloved and unwanted, which severely damages your self-esteem and mental health.

Guión

¿Qué aspecto tiene?

¿Conoces a esas parejas que llevan años juntas?

Lo hicieron todo según las normas: se licenciaron juntos, se prometieron, se casaron y ahora tienen hijos, un perro y viven en una gran casa con vallas blancas en las afueras.

At first glance, this kind of life looks like a fairytale. After all, this is what we’ve all dreamt of while growing up.

Pero a veces, las cosas son demasiado buenas para ser verdad. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not claiming that every seemingly perfect relationship is not as great as it seems.

Sin embargo, las relaciones guionizadas son así. De hecho, en la mayoría de los casos, recuerdan a esas familias de Stepford.

They are together and do everything by the book because that is how things should be. These couples aren’t living the life they want because they’re too busy fulfilling expectations.

I don’t know whether they’ve been told that their life has to look like this, if they come from a traditional family who taught them that this was the only way, or if they’re just too obsessed with meeting society’s standards.

¿Dónde puede ir mal?

Para los espectadores, estas parejas lo tienen todo: tienen trabajos estables, pagan la hipoteca y se van de vacaciones.

El día de su boda fue mágico, sus hijos están bien educados, visitan a sus familias, pasan los domingos juntos y salen con otras familias similares a la suya.

Pero, ¿se aman de verdad? ¿Existe una auténtica conexión emocional? ¿Se escuchan de verdad?

Nobody has ever heard them arguing – but you won’t see them kissing either. One question arises here: Are people in scripted relationships robots or human beings?

Validación

¿Por qué ocurre?

Las personas que se enfrentan a diversas inseguridades tienen una necesidad incontrolable de validación en diferentes formas de relación.

They need someone who will tell them that they’re enough, that they’re doing okay, and that they’re valuable. Otherwise, they won’t see their own worth.

Suele empezar en la primera infancia, cuando el niño pide la aprobación de sus padres, amigos o profesores.

However, if they don’t get the right kind and amount of proof that they matter, they’ll continue seeking it through adulthood.

When you’re in this type of relationship, all you need is your partner’s acceptance. Your self-esteem completely depends on their opinion, so you’re also, in a way, co-dependent.

Whatever you do, you do it for them to think that you’re enough. You have the need to prove your worth to them because you don’t have it without their validation.

You constantly wonder if you could do better, if they’re happy with you, and if you’re giving them all you should. The moment you see their dissatisfaction, you’re convinced that you did something wrong.

Piensas demasiado cada palabra y cada movimiento. Te culpas por todo lo malo en tu relación como si ellos no tuvieran ninguna responsabilidad en tu relación.

¿Por qué está mal?

Let’s get one thing straight: someone else can never give you confirmation of your worth until you start feeling valuable. It shouldn’t depend on your relationship but your own opinion and fee la primera persona que se cruce en tu camino, y te staelings.

I’m trying to say that your starting point for change has to be learning how to build your self-confidence.

All the love you’re getting from your partner is completely pointless unless you learn cómo quererse a uno mismo.

Rebote

¿De qué se trata?

So, you’ve been in a long term relationship which ended badly. In fact, it’s irrelevant how long it lasted. Truth to be told, maybe it wasn’t an actual relationship in the first place.

Either way, the bottom line is the same: you got your heart broken. I don’t care if it was infidelity, if the other person didn’t want you, abused you, or just didn’t love you enough.

You’re disappointed and see no light at the end of the tunnel. You’ve stopped believing in love and hoping that one day, you’ll find happiness.

¿Crees que todas las mujeres o los hombres son iguales y que todo el mundo te hará el mismo daño que tu ex.

You don’t see yourself giving your heart to another person ever again, and you gave up on your “happily ever after.”

Entonces, ¿qué haces? ¿Procesas tus emociones? ¿Esperas a que las cosas mejoren?

Do you heal in a healthy way? Do you accept that you’re emotionally unavailable and abstain from any romantic relationships?

No – you do the complete opposite. Vas por ahí arreglando tus problemas creando otros nuevos, lo que, por supuesto, nunca sale bien.

Agarras a la primera persona que se cruza en tu camino y empiezas a salir con ella. Not only that – you also start things seriously.

However, you’re doing it all to forget about your ex. You’re using this person who has nothing to do with your scars, and you’re hurting them the same way you’ve been hurt.

Y esto, amigo mío, es un ejemplo típico de cómo relaciones de rebote roll. The sad thing is that they’re all around us.

¿Por qué no es saludable?

The problem is that the other person has no clue that they’re your rebound. They have no idea that you’re taking advantage of them and that they’re serving as a bandage for your crushed heart.

That is precisely what makes this entire arrangement wrong and evil – you’re hurting someone harmless in the process. Tú los guíasy les das falsas esperanzas.

Yes, you’re with your BF/GF physically, but mentally and emotionally, you’re somewhere far away. And that is something no person in this world deserves. Basically, you’re no better than your ex.

Casi

¿Cómo se produce?

Cuando empiezas a salir con alguien nuevo, lo último que quieres es parecer desesperado.

You don’t want your new boyfriend/girlfriend to think that you’ve hit the jackpot by meeting them or to see you as some loser whose only goal is to find someone to love them.

After all, being emotional is out of style, isn’t it? We’re all acting casual, and the one who shows feelings first is a loser.

So, you don’t put your cards on the table. Ahí estáis pasando el tiempo y durmiendo juntos, pero nunca os preguntáis a qué ateneros.

You’ve never committed to not seeing other people, even though this is what you’d secretly like to happen. Esperas que tu relación empiece a parecerse a otra cosa un día de estos.

En number one problem is that everything looks like you’re in a real relationship, but you’ve actually never defined it.

Todo parece perfecto hasta que llega un momento en que algo te molesta. Puede que casi flirteen con otras personas o que sigan teniendo instaladas apps de citas.

But you can’t say anything, can you? After all, you haven’t made things clear, and they never promised their fidelity.

Sounds familiar, right? Well, this is what’s called an casi relación – a trap almost all of us have fallen into at least once.

¿Por qué es perjudicial?

Don’t get me wrong – I’m not against these types of relationships. But remember that it’s all fun and games until one of you catches feelings.

And I assure you that this will happen sooner or later. I know what you must think: you’re above that, and you can control yourself.

Well, in most cases – you can’t. So, it’s better not to start these relationships in the first place to avoid any regrets later.

Equilibrado

¿De qué se trata?

A balanced relationship is basically the one in which you receive just as much as you take. You put in the amount of effort you’re getting from your partner.

¿Pero sabes lo que dice una cita famosa? “A relationship isn’t always 50/50. Some days a person will struggle. You suck it up and pick up that 80/20 cause they need you. That’s love.”

What I’m trying to say is that you shouldn’t measure the devotion, time, and effort both of you put into a relationship.

But at the end of the day, when you calculate everything, you’re pretty much on the same level.

Neither partner feels like they’re making all the sacrifices. They don’t feel like they’re moving mountains for someone who isn’t ready to move a finger for their sake.

Todo en este romance está equilibrado, incluidos tus sentimientos.

You’re not the one who loves more, nor does your partner feel like their love is unrequited. You two are equals, and that‘s the magic of it all.

¿Por qué es una relación sana?

I’ll be straight with you: out of all types of relationships, this is one of the best. Not only that: it also has the most chance of succeeding.

Usted y su pareja mantienen una comunicación sana. Ambos os entregáis por completo y unís fuerzas para que las cosas funcionen.

Nadie siente desatendida emocionalmente o utilizado. Nadie se siente no querido ni deseado.
You’re 100% into the other person. There are no hidden insecurities or traumas.

Cómodo

¿De qué se trata?

This one is quite similar to the rebound relationship we’ve already discussed. It is also temporary, and one person doesn’t share the same feelings.

However, when you’re dating someone convenientemente, you’re not doing it primarily to get over a person from your past. You’re not necessarily heartbroken or hurt.

In fact, you don’t even have to be extra careful. In this case, you’re not scared of going through the same hell you went through in your past.

Here, you’re with your boyfriend or girlfriend just because you don’t want to be alone. On the other hand, there is no one better around.

Despite all of your attempts, you can’t seem to find your perfect match. You know exactly what you’re looking for, but sadly, you haven’t crossed paths with your dream guy or girl yet.

So, you start dating the first person that comes along. There is no extreme chemistry here, and you certainly don’t plan on spending the rest of your life with them.

But they’re convenient for the moment. They don’t bother you much, they meet some of your basic standards, you like them to a certain extent, and they keep you company.

It’s better than being alone, isn’t it? Especially if all of your friends are taken, and you could use a plus one.

¿Por qué es malo?

Well, isn’t it obvious how wrong this is on so many levels?

Let’s start with the fact that you’re dragging someone innocent along. You’ll end up breaking their heart with your little games once you leave them for the person who has everything you want.

But not only that: this is also damaging for you. You’re living a lie, and you’re wasting your time on the wrong person while you could be out there searching for your Mr. or Ms. Right.

Tóxico

¿De qué se trata?

You know those relationships where it’s all about the fireworks? You feel like you can’t live without this person, but it’s pretty obvious that you two don’t function well together either.

So, you keep going back and forth. You’ve split up more times than anyone can count, but you always find a way back to each other.

Por supuesto, arrastras a otras personas a tu lío por el camino. Empiezas a salir con alguien nuevo, pero de alguna manera, siempre acabas con tu ex.

It’s enough for your loved one to look at you to tear down all of your walls. No matter what happens, your love trumps everything.

At least, that is what you think, isn’t it? This must be love – after all, it’s clear that the two of you are meant to be together.

Well, this couldn’t be further from the truth. This is a relación tóxica you’ll waste years of your life on.

¿Por qué es tan atractivo?

It’s in human nature to chase what they can’t have. That is exactly what you two do: you run after each other because you’re both so unattainable.

Even though deep down, you’re sure of your partner’s emotions, you never know their next move. They’re unpredictable, and all of this drama makes you feel more alive.

As much as you hate to hear this, this is anything but healthy. Instead, it’s poisonous, and it will leave severe consequences for your mental health.

Larga distancia

¿De qué se trata?

Once again, the name says it all: this is the type of relationship where you’re physically apart from your loved one. But the distance doesn’t impact your love, or at least – it shouldn’t.

Of course, it all depends on how far away you live from each other. Most long-distance couples don’t meet as often as they’d like, and most of the time, they rely on technology.

¿Dura?

La pregunta definitiva es si las relaciones a distancia acaban funcionando o no. Bueno, como con todo en la vida: no hay una regla y todo depende.

Ante todo, necesita tener un plan. You can’t continue living like this forever, especially if you want to start a family.

Therefore, it’s crucial that you’re both on the same page here.

¿Quién se trasladará adónde? ¿Se encontrarán a mitad de camino, o uno de los dos dejará atrás su vida y se unirá a la otra persona?

¿Qué pasará con sus carreras, amigos, aficiones y familias? ¿Están realmente preparados para dar este gran paso? Estas son todas las preguntas a las que hay que responder antes de hacer cambios cruciales.

On the other hand, if you don’t have any concrete plans and don’t talk about the future, what’s the point of your relación a distancia? ¿Planeas tener citas FaceTime por el resto de la eternidad?

Otra cosa de la que debes olvidarte es de los celos excesivos. Te guste o no, tu pareja vive al otro lado del país, así que no te queda más remedio que confiar en ella.

Citas

¿De qué se trata?

When you’re dating, you’re out there on the market. You’re looking for your soulmate, and you’re meeting new people during your quest.

You might find your potential dates on a dating app, on social media, or you’re going on blind or speed dates.

But this is not the only definition of dating. There is also an option when you’re dating only one person at a time, but you still don’t call it a relationship.

¿Adónde puede llevarnos?

Either way, dating is completely harmless under the condition that everyone involved knows what they’re getting themselves into.

You have to be clear that you’re not seeing anyone specific and that you’re not ready to be exclusive just yet.

Also, there is nothing wrong if you don’t feel like dating. You’re allowed to flirt and text with someone, but that doesn’t mean you’re obligated to go on a date with them.

The good thing about being on the dating market is that you get a chance to meet a bunch of new people. You won’t like some of them, but you can always remain friends.

Por otro lado, aumenta significativamente sus posibilidades de encontrar el. Don’t be fooled into thinking that real love has to happen – sometimes you need to put effort into finding it.

It’s not always like in the movies, and you won’t necessarily fall in love with tu persona para siempre a primera vista.

Sometimes, you’ll go out on a few dates, and then you’ll realize that they stand out from everyone else you might be seeing.

Spontaneously, you’ll become exclusive, start a more intimate relationship, and understand that you’re meant for each other. You know, the old fashioned way.

Amigos con derecho a roce

¿Cómo se produce?

En pocas palabras, amigos con derecho a roce is a type of intimate relationship when you’re hooking up with someone who is your friend. It’s more than a casual affair in which everything revolves around physical pleasure.

Tú y esta persona tenéis una conexión profunda. Te entienden, cuidan de tu bienestar, te escuchan y aparecen cuando necesitas su ayuda o un hombro sobre el que llorar.

Además, tenéis una química increíble y os lleváis genial entre las sábanas. Así que surge la pregunta lógica: ¿en qué se diferencia esto de una relación real y por qué no es exclusiva?

Bueno, en primer lugar, este tipo de relaciones casi nunca son públicas. Ocultáis vuestras aventurillas, lo que lo hace aún más mono y excitante.

Also, you two don’t go out on actual dates. There is no jealousy involved, and you’re allowed to meet and date other people. How perfect is that?

¿Por qué puede salir mal?

It seems that almost nothing could possibly go wrong here. You get to kiss your best friend whom you’re physically attracted to, but you don’t get the bad sides every romantic relationship brings to the table.

Pero, ¿qué pasa cuando conoces a alguien nuevo? I know what you’ll say: “we’ll end our little fling.”

Pero, ¿lo haréis de verdad? ¿Seguiréis saliendo como si nada o uno de los dos acabará con el corazón roto?

Will you be honest with your partner about the romantic history you had with your friend? If the answer is yes, how do you think they’ll take it?

¿Les parecerá bien que sigáis siendo amigos íntimos? ¿O te pedirán que te distancies de tu amigo con derecho a roce? Si es así, ¿a quién elegirás?

Dilemmas, dilemmas, dilemmas. The truth is that it’s quite likely that you’ll find yourself in this situation. And according to relational experts, it will happen sooner than you might think.

Therefore, if you don’t have the answers to all of these questions, I’ll give you a piece of relationship advice: maybe it’s better to stay away from this arrangement.

Otra razón para no hacerlo es su inestabilidad emocional. It’s more likely that you’ll enamórate de tu amigo (who you already love in a non-romantical way) than with some stranger you’ve just met.

What happens if one person’s feelings grow, but the other’s don’t? The end of your friendship, that’s right.
Do you want to ruin it forever for a few moments of passion? Of course, you don’t. That’s what I thought.

Abrir

¿De qué se trata?

An open relationship doesn’t equal infidelity. When you’re unfaithful in a monogamous relationship, you go behind your partner’s back.

You deceive them into thinking that they’re the only one in your life while you’re actually backstabbing them with your lover.

In an open relationship, all cards are on the table, without anything hidden. You’re both allowed to see other people, to go on dates, or even to sleep with them.

Sin embargo, pase lo que pase, siempre vuelven el uno al otro. Por extraño que pueda parecer a algunos, algunas parejas disfrutan de verdad con este tipo de romance.

They don’t love each other any less than “regular” couples, and they only see this as a little hobby that keeps the spark alive.

¿Por qué es tan malo?

¿Qué ocurre cuando alguien se pasa de la raya? En una relación abierta, siempre hay una serie de normas: una lista de cosas aceptables e inaceptables.

Pero, ¿puedes realmente controlarte? Quién

can guarantee that you won’t fall in love with one of your dates?

Don’t get me wrong: this level of trust is admirable, and not many could stand it. However, things go unplanned in a split second.

Reflexiones finales

Al fin y al cabo, recuerde que cada romance es una historia de amor única. Estos tipos de relaciones deben servir como punto de partida para identificar tu relación y, con suerte, mejorarla.

Olvídate de lo que dirán los demás y elige la opción que más te convenga.

The only thing that matters is you and your partner’s satisfaction and joy, and nobody else, besides you two have a say in these things.

Also, if you’re intrigued and want to learn more about tipos interesantes de relacionesconsulte nuestros nuevos contenidos en la poliamoroso.

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