Stage 1: The Euphoric Stage – 6 Months to 24 Months (2 Years)
“In the early part of a relationship—the falling in love stage—the other person is the centre of your life. You forgive everything in these early stages. The other person has faults, and you see them, but it doesn’t matter.
Stage 2: The Early Attachment Stage – 12 Months (1 Year) to 60 Months (5 Years)
“You can sleep! You’re not thinking about [your partner] 24 hours a day. It’s easier to do other things in your life.”
Stage 3: The Crisis Stage – 60 Months (5 Years) to 84 Months (7 Years)
“Almost every relationship has a drift apart phase,”. “Either you will keep drifting, or you will come back together. You need a crisis to get through and to be able to talk about it together—you will have both grown and changed.”
Stage 4: The Deep Attachment Stage – 84 Months (7 Years) and Beyond
The deep attachment stage is the calm after the storm. By this point, a couple knows each other well; they’ve been through the inevitable ups and downs, they know that they can deal with crises, and they’ve likely planned for handling future situations.
