Is there a difference between a Clean Break and Needing Space?

Question

My girlfriend and I of 2 years had been going through some rough times, but I was sure that we were making things work. We both decided to move to separate places to help with the relationship. Then after New Years we had a fight and she explained that she wanted space. I didn't take her decision well because I had never taken space with past relationships and wasn't exactlly sure what she meant. After talking back and forth for most of the month of January she sent me a letter stating "I think we should just make a clean break". But then ended the letter with "if she can't fix her own problems their can be no us". That was the first part that started to confuse me. But then she sent another letter saying she just needed space to fix the stress in her life and get rid of the drama. I then agreed and we had one more conversation on the phone about 12 hours after she wrote the last letter, only for her to change her mind back to a "Clean Break" and then ending the conversation with "I love you" and "I hope we can work this out". I must sound like a chicken with it's head cut off. But can anyone explain exactly what the difference is and what I should do.

Answer 1

Well, if she wants a clean break, then she wants to be done with the relationship entirely.



If she wants a 'break for space', then she wants time to think over the relationship and to collect her thoughts, to view it from a different perspective other than the one where you are with her all the time. She wants distance from you to be able to know whether or not she misses you and whether or not the relationship will work out, or what she really feels for you.



But if she didn't say anything about just taking a 'break', then she wants to break up. A 'clean break' would mean to break up with no time for her to think- she's done.

She may have said that she needed space to make the blow a little less painful.

Sounds to me like she wants to break up.

But she may be confused and not know what she wants, since she seems to keep saying things like 'i need space' and 'i love you'. Of course you can still love a person and want a break from them.

If I were you, I would just go ahead and let her have her space and then contact you when she wants to talk with you again, or knows what she wants from you.

Answer 2

hey i think your girlfriend is stressed-out over something,you really should give her some space..SPACE MEANING-leave her on her own 4 sometime 2 think clearly and dont keep on bothering her.

Answer 3

The only difference is how blunt she wants to be when dumping you.