What is considered a 'rebound'?

[slamma19]

Can a rebound relationship happen to both the dumpee and the dumper?

 

How long after a break-up would a new relationship still be considered a rebound?

 

My boyfriend broke up with me 2 months ago, and we had an amazing relationship. But it ended because he 'didn't feel the same.' Right now he has 2 girls on the go, they both like him and he likes them both as well, and they know about each other and there seems to be some conflict happening. Is this a rebound?

[suddendumpee]

A rebound has little to do with when the relationship ended, and all to do with how long the person has been emotionally detached. For this reason, the dumper is able to move on rather quickly (and much to the dumpee's dismay, this almost always translates to immediately). While the dumpee's new relationship would be considered a rebound if she enters a new relationship while still thinking about and harboring resentment toward his/her ex.

 

One thing I find interested. For the dumper: They usually move on quickly. Usually because of a stagnant relationship, but they rarely leave until something better presents itself. When it does, their sacrifice of their previous relationship makes them cling on to the new person for dear life, and put them on a pedestal. This in turn causes the dumper to be dumped themselves. Call it Karma, or what goes around comes around.

 

For the dumpee: They rebound to someone who will be "safer" and careful with their heart. This usually means they look for someone with the OPPOSITE qualities to their ex. The problem is, this is not the type of person they are usually attracted to, so when the honeymoon period ends, they feel something is missing. They then become the dumper and do the exact same thing that was done to them by their previous ex.

 

It is a vicious cycle that can only be broken by time to heal and grow on both parts. The problem is that the dumper rarely sees this as necessary and the dumpee is too broken to be alone.