DEAR ABBY: I'm a 23-year-old female and what you would call a "serial monogamist." I don't understand how I got this way, but I just love being in a relationship.
My curse is that I constantly wish to be back with my exes. I idealize the past and "forget" the negative things that made me cheat on or leave them.
I know that if I leave my current boyfriend, I'll just want to get back with him in the future. It's a weird, vicious cycle that causes me a lot of guilt and regret. How do I get over the past and appreciate the present? -- MIXED UP IN BROOKLYN, N.Y.
DEAR MIXED UP: You may think you "love" being in a relationship, but it may be time to take a long, hard look at how you really feel about intimacy. It appears that every time you get close to a man you feel compelled to do something to destroy the romance. This boyfriend may -- or may not -- be someone you'd like to spend the rest of your life with. But unless you understand what drives you to cheat on a partner or dump him, the pattern will continue to repeat itself. Counseling might give you insight, and I recommend it.