Some blame an "out of sight, out of mind" mentality for why many long-distance relationships seem to fail, but recent studies have found that the separation can be a great advantage for couple satisfaction.One thing is clear though— it's never easy to keep a long-distance relationship afloat, and it can often take extra finesse to keep the spark alive.In many ways, being in a long distance relationship can be the greatest thing to happen to your relationship…At this point, you might think I’m crazy, but think about it…Recently, I have started to fear that he’s slipping away.I can’t tell if it’s just me being crazy or if this is my instincts picking up on him losing interest…However, when it comes to positive communication, we do not talk often enough (for me) so the postive gaps get filled in some times w/email and text and (dare I say) messages on FB (but not on the wall).

Hopefully you've known this person before and you're not just starting out with the distance, so you have a greater sense of them, but you should figure out the best way to reach out to each other so you feel connected and have regular times to check in." With communicating, Sherman says, the most crucial thing to do at the outset of a long-distance relationship is to know what you need from your partner and to have the vulnerability to say so.

Some visit every weekend, others, every few months.

But on average, long-distance couples see each other 1.5 times a month, according to center statistics.

To hear some tips on how to weather the pitfalls of a long-distance romance, we asked Dr.

Paulette Sherman—a licensed psychologist with a specialty in romantic relationships, and author of the guided meditation companion Talking every single day might be overkill in a normal relationship, but when you're long-distance, lack of communication can prey on insecurities.