DEFINITION: Relationship recycling is a series of break-up/make-up cycles in a relationship. Sixty-two (62%) of romantic adult relationships do not end at the first break-up; recycling is not unusal.. Couples often return to the troubled relationship because it feels safer than the alternative of being separated. Recycling, however, becomes an issue when there are more than 2-3 break-up/make-up cycles.Repeated recycling is an indication that the couple does not do well together and they also are not strong enough to stand alone.
The ability to have continue in a relationship without recycling requires that both people be committed to addressing the issues - both as a couple and individually. It is counterproductive to blame the other person for the recycling. Repeated recycling can become ingrained in a relationship as the couple becomes conditions to see this behavior as "normal". How many recycles are common? See BPDFamily.com poll.
ALTERNATES: "Break-up /make-up", "Recycle relationship", "Toxic relationship recycling","Toxic recycling" "Relationship recycling", "Recycle", "Recycle"
See also Hoover, Inability to Disengage, Boundary Breaking, Post Relationship Trauma.