Situationship Season: Why We Settle for Almost Relationships

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The Era of Almost Relationships

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You text every day, you go on dates, maybe you’ve met each other’s friends.
There’s chemistry, connection, comfort… but also confusion.

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Because despite how close you are, there’s still that one missing word: commitment.

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Welcome to Situationship Season — where dating looks like a relationship, feels like a relationship, but somehow still isn’t one.

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And if you’ve found yourself here (again), you’re not alone.
Especially in a busy, social, and career-driven area like Liberty Village, where independence is celebrated — and emotional vulnerability can feel risky.

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What Exactly Is a Situationship?

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A situationship is the space between friendship and commitment — romantic enough to blur boundaries, but undefined enough to stay “safe.”

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It’s connection without clarity. Intimacy without labels. Love without direction.

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And while they can feel exciting at first — free, spontaneous, low-pressure — over time, many people end up feeling anxious, insecure, or stuck.

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1. The Comfort of Ambiguity

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One of the biggest reasons people stay in situationships is comfort.
When life feels uncertain — especially post-pandemic, career-focused, and digitally saturated — casual relationships offer flexibility and control.

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You get closeness without vulnerability. You get affection without accountability.

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But emotional safety isn’t about avoiding risk — it’s about building trust.
And trust requires clarity.

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2. The Fear of Defining What We Want

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Modern dating culture has made it almost taboo to want something real.

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You don’t want to seem clingy. You don’t want to scare them off. You don’t want to be the one who “catches feelings first.”

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So you stay vague — waiting for the other person to make it official, or pretending you’re okay with “seeing where things go.”

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But underneath that chill exterior, your nervous system is working overtime — trying to decode every text, every tone, every delay in reply.
That’s not chill. That’s anxiety.

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3. The Illusion of Control

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In a situationship, you might tell yourself, “I’m fine with this.”
You convince yourself you’re choosing freedom — when really, you’re avoiding the vulnerability that comes with being chosen.

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Ambiguity can feel safer than rejection.
It gives you a sense of control over the narrative — but in reality, you’re stuck waiting for someone else to define your story.

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4. Why We Accept Less Than We Want

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At its core, settling for almost-love often comes from an emotional wound:

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• Fear of abandonment
• Low self-worth
• Past betrayal or trauma
• Confusion about what healthy love looks like

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When you’re used to uncertainty, consistency can feel foreign.
And when you’ve been disappointed before, you start to believe that “almost enough” is as good as it gets.

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But real connection doesn’t require guessing games. It requires communication, commitment, and care — the very things situationships avoid.

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5. The Dopamine Loop of “Almost”

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Every time you get a text, a like, or a late-night “miss you,” your brain releases dopamine — the same chemical that drives addiction.

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Situationships often thrive on that intermittent reinforcement:
Just enough affection to keep you hopeful, just enough distance to keep you chasing.

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It’s not love; it’s neurological tug-of-war.
And it leaves you emotionally exhausted.

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6. How to Know If You’re in a Situationship

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Ask yourself:

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• Do I feel secure or anxious after we spend time together?
• Do I know where this is heading — or am I afraid to ask?
• Do I feel like I’m expressing my needs, or suppressing them?

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If those questions make your stomach drop, you probably already know the answer.

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The Therapy Perspective: What’s Really Going On

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At KMA Therapy’s Liberty Village location, we often see clients navigating the blurry line between casual and committed.

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Therapy can help you:

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• Understand your attachment style and emotional patterns
• Build confidence to communicate what you want
• Heal from relational anxiety and past heartbreak
• Set healthy boundaries while keeping your heart open

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Because clarity doesn’t ruin good connections — it strengthens them.

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You Deserve More Than “Almost”

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You don’t have to beg for clarity or pretend you’re “cool with casual.”
You’re allowed to want more. You’re allowed to ask for it. You’re allowed to stop waiting for someone else to decide if you’re enough.

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And if that sounds terrifying — that’s okay.
That fear is exactly where the healing begins.

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Ready to Stop Settling for “Almost”?

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If you’re ready to break the cycle of confusing connections, our Liberty Village therapists can help you find the clarity, confidence, and emotional balance you deserve.

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Book your 15-minute discovery call today to get matched with a therapist who helps you understand your patterns — and start creating relationships that feel real.

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Book your free 15-minute discovery call →

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