Why Do People Break Up on Valentine's Day?

February 14 is touted as a day of romance, but the holiday has its dark side. The number of shattered relationships in the weeks leading up to Valentine's Day is unusually high. In addition, there are always those couples who wait for V-Day itself to cut the knot.

Every year, Valentine's Day season is punctuated by stormy break-ups. Why? Here are four reasons people dump their partners on Valentine's Day.

Too Much Pressure

While Valentine's Day can be a fun excuse to spend time together as a couple, it can also be stressful. If partners don't communicate their expectations to each other, the holiday can be a minefield of disappointed hopes. Brian, 35, said he dreaded the weeks before Valentine's Day because his girlfriend dropped hints about the "big surprise" she expected. "I felt manipulated into outdoing myself every year," he said. "One year I told her I just wanted to spend time together. She thought I was joking, but when she realized I really hadn't gotten her anything, we had a huge fight."

When February rolls around, don't assume your partner is on the same page. A quick conversation ahead of time helps avoid hurt feelings and angry words.

Relationship Doesn't Match Ideal

While most intelligent adults understand the difference between real life and fantasy, hyped up media messages still worm their way into the subconscious. Sappy songs, happy-ever-after movies, and advertisements featuring impossibly beautiful people do more harm than good. "I broke up with my boyfriend on Valentine's Day, not because he didn't get me anything, but because I realized I wanted someone better," admitted Sandy, 27. "It was kind of a wake-up call."

While there's no point remaining in a relationship that doesn't meet your needs, be sure that you're evaluating your partner by realistic standards -- and not by Hollywood's.

"Vengeance is Mine"

Sad to say, Valentine's Day break-ups are often planned. Partners who feel duped or betrayed may choose to take revenge on their partners with a painful revelation. "I found out my partner had been cheating on me a week before Valentine's Day," said Myah, 28. "Instead of confronting her right away, I sent her a singing telegram at work breaking up with her. All her co-workers got to witness it."

While revenge may taste sweet in the moment, it's safe to say that very few relationships survive public humiliation of this kind. If you have any desire to save your relationship -- or your dignity -- a private conversation with your partner is more appropriate than V-Day drama.

Saving It Up

The logic sounds bizarre, but it's not uncommon for relationships to drag on because one or the other partner is "waiting till after Valentine's Day" to break up. "Things had felt stale for me for a long time, but I couldn't bear the thought of David spending the holiday alone," said Corissa, 44. Her ex-boyfriend David had another viewpoint. "If she'd ended the relationship earlier, I might already have been with someone else by February. I think she just didn't want to be alone."

Waiting to break up until Valentine's Day is over is like putting a band-aid on a first-degree burn. You may cover the problem temporarily, but in the long-term, you'll just cause yourself -- and your partner -- more pain. Don't let a contrived Hallmark holiday control your relationships: do the right thing.

How Can You Avoid a Valentine's Day Break-Up?

Valentine's Day doesn't have to be an excuse to relive old arguments or create new ones. While not everyone likes this over-commercialized holiday, there's no reason to dramatize it with painful memories. Relax, hang onto your sense of humor...and don't say anything you'll regret.