Scientists discover 'point of no return' in dying relationships and how to know when it happens

The lead up to the end of a relationship is sometimes worse than the break-up itself.

Unless you're one of the lucky few to find the love of your life at a young age, it's likely you'll go through one (or a few) break-ups.

Those who have experienced a break-up will know that they rarely come out of the blue and there's usually signs that things weren't what they were.

Further looking into the lead up to the end of romance, researchers from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) in Germany have released a new study focusing on when relationships enter the period of no return.

Their analysis built was on national studies from Germany, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, and found that there's a 'terminal stage' of a relationship (basically when it's unsalvageable).

This stage comes in two phases. Firstly is the initial preterminal phase, which can have a duration of several years and is characterized by a minor decline in satisfaction.

This is followed by a transition or tipping point from which there is an accelerated decline in satisfaction, a press release explains.

Apparently relationships are 'doomed' if you reach the terminal phase (Getty Stock)

The terminal phase of a relationship after this transition point can last anywhere between seven to 28 months, but the average timeframe is one to two years.

Speaking on this, Professor Janina Bühler from the Institute of Psychology at JGU said: "Once this terminal phase is reached, the relationship is doomed to come to an end."

What's more, the two partners do not experience the transition phase in the same way.

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The person who ends the relationship is likely to have been unhappy for a longer period of time. Meanwhile, for the recipient of the separation, the transition point arrives relatively shortly before the actual separation and they experience a very rapid decline in relationship satisfaction.

"Partners pass through various phases. They do not normally separate from one day to the next, and the way these phases impact on the two partners differs," added Bühler.

With the findings in mind, Bühler — who also works as a couples therapist — has shared some relationship advice.

It was found that couples go through the different phases as different times (Getty Stock)

"It is thus important to be aware of these relationship patterns," she said.

"Initiating measures in the preterminal phase of a relationship, i.e., before it begins to go rapidly downhill, may thus be more effective and even contribute to preserving the relationship."

Long story short, if you sense your relationship satisfaction is declining but you want to salvage what you once had with your partner, then you need to address the matter and try fix what's causing you (or the other person) to be dissatisfied before you hit the dreaded 'terminal stage'.