Can Friends With Benefits Turn Into a Relationship?

There are many people who like the idea of having friends with benefits. It’s fun, it’s careless, and it eliminates all the bad things that come with regular relationships. But sometimes, people develop feelings. One party starts falling in love, and they would do anything to move on to the next level. 

But is this even possible? Can you turn friends with benefits into a real relationship? And if so, what’s the trick? Here, we will cover everything you need to know about friends with benefits. 

Friends With Benefits Set Up

The first thing we should define here is what it means to be friends with benefits. Friends with benefits is a relationship or at least a form of it. However, unlike in “a real relationship,” the couple will be focused on the sexual part exclusively. That means that there are no strings attached, and anyone can do whatever they want. One of the popular terms for this type of relationship is fuck buddy. 

It is exactly what it sounds like. Two people will have sex when they both feel like having sex, and then they will go their separate ways. As with any other form of a committed relationship, there are pros and cons. Having a fuck buddy is not for everyone, and there are many people who dislike the idea of having friends with benefits. 

The first and most obvious advantage is sincerity. The couple won’t fake their feelings, they will play no games, and they will be honest with each other. You probably had a situation where you wondered whether the person was looking for a love relationship or if they are talking to you just because they wanted casual sex. Here, the answer is simple — they want casual sex. 

Now, the main problem you might encounter is the chance of falling in love. Usually, that is a good thing. But, if you have a friend with benefits, there is a chance that they are not looking for anything other than banging. To be honest, that’s the very idea behind this, and the only thing that could happen is for someone to get hurt and lose a friend. 

Can It Turn Into Something More Serious?

The main problem with falling in love is that our reason and logic play no part in it. We can’t decide whether we want to develop feelings. It might happen in your FWB relationship too. So, is there any way to turn this into something more serious? Can friends with benefits become real lovers in a real relationship?

The answer is — it depends. There are no rules or guidelines you need to follow. One thing that’s certain is that it is possible and that it happened to many people. Ask yourself why you would start this type of relationship. You might like someone physically without feeling that special something when you are with them. Both of you like sex, and you find something about each other attractive. But, it’s still natural for people to develop feelings over time, and it’s not rare for one party to fall in love. 

The main question is whether they feel the same and whether they feel comfortable in long-term relationships. If you are the one with feelings, you should talk to them. Each person is different, and there is a chance that they thought about a more romantic option as well. Maybe they developed feelings too but were too scared to make the first move.

So, the possibility is there. It’s slim, but it’s there. Try to see if there is anything different in their behavior in the past couple of days or weeks. Do they spend more time with you, for example? Look for hints that the person would like to take it to the next level. Of course, there are those who go into this type of relationship with clear “instructions,” and they just want to have sex. If that is the case, you probably won’t be able to change their mind. 

What Are the Risks?

The obvious risk is losing it all. If they don’t feel the same way you do, they probably won’t feel comfortable being near you, which will put a stop to the whole relationship. Usually, the idea behind it is “I didn’t sign up for this.” Not only that you will lose your “booty call,” but you will also lose a friend. And that’s it. You will feel bad, and it will seem like a really bad idea. 

But that’s not the end. If you fell in love with someone, and they don’t feel the same way as you do, there is no reason to dwell on it. The best idea is to move on, and eventually, you will feel better. It is always better to be honest, try your best, and hopefully, things will work out just the way you imagined. 

There is always a possibility that your partner will feel the same way about you, and they will be delighted to take it to the next level. And if that’s not the case, it’s their loss. You need to worry about your own feelings, and staying in a friends with benefits relationship will only make you feel worse. As we mentioned before, the main trait of an FWB relationship is honesty, and you should focus on that. For better or worse. 

Summary

Being in a friends with benefits relationship is great. Until someone starts developing feelings, that is. If that is the case, the best option would be to try and see if they feel the same way as you do. Maybe they want this change as well. But even if it is not the case, then the only way for you to get better and avoid being hurt is to continue on your own. Loving someone who doesn’t love you back can be challenging, and the longer you stay, the more pain it will cause. So, the best relationship advice is to focus on yourself and what will make you feel great.