People share why they stayed in relationships with people they weren't in love with.

Relationships are complicated and the concept of "being in love" looks and sounds different for each couple. The sparks of romance and lust that first attract people often fade into a deeper, less glamorous relationship as the years pass. But in some cases, the feelings of love wear off as resolutely as the infatuation. Ideally, this is cause for a break-up, but there are times when people stay in loveless marriages much longer than ideal.

Sometimes it's out of a fear for the other person's mental health, the logistics of divorce, or concern about children. Other times the reasoning is even more abstract or intertwined.

In a recent Reddit thread, people who stayed in loveless relationships share their reasons.

1. thomasmaaloe felt obligated.

It just sort of became a habit, and when I realised I didn't have the feelings anymore we had two young children and I didn't want to break up the family, and later when when we tried couples therapy, this didn't change anything, but our son was diagnosed with leukemia(2 years ago), so I felt we had to stay together until he was well. My ex didn't agree and we were divorced this summer. My son is almost through the treatment and is doing fine.