I would say yes. "Cooling-off" is a nicer way to say that you are changing and don't really want to hurt the one you are with. No matter how hard you try, you can't get back the feeling you had before. However, there is a "comfort zone" that you reach in a relationship and it is hard to let go when you do love the person, but don't feel in love anymore. I think that it is also another way to get the space and time you need to make sure that you are making the right decision. When you can't feel the heat anymore and things don't make sense....these days misery doesn't make great company. *James Larrick--Thanks for the tip, glad you can help put me in my place, appreciate it! *Anderson777, You are right..It doesn't always happen to you, but it has always happened to me, so difference in opinion is right, my apologies! Next time I will contemplate before I type in my ratings. However, the "No it doesn't" sounded like you were calling me out, so I responded.

No it doesn't. My boyfriend and I lived together and were engaged and he called off the wedding and asked for a "cooling off period"-can't get much worse than that. We did not break up. We decided to live together and leave it at that for now. He has commitment issues that he needs time to work through and I support that. And quite frankly, the prospect of remarrying is scary for me. The term absence makes the heart grow fonder offers some hope as well. It just depends on the couple and the situation. Sometimes a "cooling off" period is a good thing and helps put things in perspective. Hope this helps. Note: The question was does it ALWAYS lead to breaking up. The situation no longer suited me and I left him. We have not ruled out marriage in the future, we are just not as ready as we had thought. We agreed to take some time off and as most adults who love each other do, we compromised. A very healthy practice and one that resulted in a "cool off" with no break up. Thanks for the support and useful ratings! :)

"Cooling off" does not always lead to breaking up. The "comfort zone" and the lessening of "in love" feelings happens in every relationship. It really depends on what the basis of the relationship is..

No. Cooling-off does NOT always lead to breaking up. It may seem like its the end of a relationship, because the cooling-off phase is usually accompanied by 'I think we should see other people' or 'We need time apart' or 'I'm not sure if we should see each other anymore' and the dreaded 'I need my space'. But a 'cooling-off' period is basically an evaluation period...and there is a 50/50 chance of break up or reconciliation. It is true that cooling-off usually does lead to a break-up, but there are many times where it does not lead to a break up, and in fact it leads to an overall improvement to the relationship! Take my good friends for example. One of my close friends of many years was getting married. Over the years I also became close with his fiance, and they are both two of the best friends I have. After being together for 3 years, with the wedding less than a year away, my friend suddenly had a change of heart, and called off the wedding and told his fiance that he doesn't think they should see each other for a while. It was completely unexpected and out of the blue. So for about a month and a half, they both went their seperate ways. I had deep conversations with each of them, and both of them pretty much came to the idea that they weren't happy together anymore, and that they did want to see other people before they settle down, and there are many things that they still wanted to do yet (they are only 22 and 23). However, a reconciliation happened...and now they are both closer than I have ever seen them...its like a completely new couple! That is one example...out of many. It shows that a 'cool-off' period can actually lead to an increase in feelings and overall improvement to the relationship. 'Cooling off' doesn't mean 'leading to break up'. What it really means is that both partners need time to themselves to evaluate whether or not they really are happy together, and if they want to continue being together. Yes, it DOES lead to breakups. But it does not always lead to them. I have known of others who have had success in a cool-off...making the overall relationship the same as it was, or much better than it has ever been. Don't feel that because you are taking time off fromt he relationship that it is doomed...it might only get better! However, you have to be sure that it is what you want, and what your partner wants. If it does lead to a break up, then you should look toward tomorrow, because you don't know what it may bring!

I would say as as well. However, If you are able to avoid it, I think you're relationship will be more beautiful than ever. Learn from your mistakes during this period. You must!

Well, depends on the relationship. I think whoever said to 'cool off' in the relationship has been thinking about breaking up with you, but doesn't want to let you go, can't bare to see you leave. Its a evenly split chance of staying together and breaking up. You have to think if you were the one who said it, why you would do it, plus how much you want to be with this man/woman, and whether YOU think it should mean breaking up or not.

Ok maybe you guys can help me with this. My fiance and I had a massive arguement because I was a stupid cow and acted like an idiot. I'mm 22 and he's 47. He threw me out of the house and now says that our relationship is over. Does he just need some time to cool off before he can talk about what happened and to discuss getting back together? Any help with this would be much appreciated. Thanks guys.