You've probably heard it all before; long-distance relationships are tough, but not impossible. Lately, though, you've noticed your inbox is suffering from a severe lack of cutesy text messages and your boy isn't always available to chat it up any time of the day or night like usual. Maybe it's time to face up to a harsh reality: sometimes long-distance relationships are just too tough to handle.

There was a time when your boy was at arm's reach. He made you dinner Sunday nights, he snuggled up with you every Thursday to watch the O.C. and he was always just a phone call away. But now you're back in school and your sweetie is hundreds (or thousands!) of miles away. What can you do to make it work?

Trust your partner. Okay, this one seems obvious. But when distance becomes a factor in a once super-sweet relationship, the equation changes quite a bit. Bugging your beau with endless calls and texts demanding he tell you where is every second of every day is not going to do anything but tear you, and your relationship, apart. In order for a relationship like this to work, there has to be a very high level of trust.

Communicate. In order to endure a long-distance romance, there must also be communication. Not only does this mean keeping in touch with your man through e-mails, phone calls, text messages or letters, but also involves talking to each other about the status of your relationship. If things start to feel awkward, talk through the issue and don't avoid it.

Visits are just visits. Just like you wouldn't spend every waking moment with your sweetie if you lived close, make sure to give yourself some space when you do get a chance to see his shining face. You don't get to see each other often, so when you do, make it memorable without suffocating each other. Also, make a point not to "surprise" each other with unplanned visits. You wouldn't want your beau to intrude on important plans you have with your friends, so make it known that you won't do it to him, either.

Know where you stand. A guy might see a long-distance relationship as the perfect way to have his cake and eat it, too. Make sure that both of you are clear about the way the relationship is supposed to work. Are you going to remain exclusive, or will you be allowed to date other people? Take the time to be up front about the issue from the start so no confusion will arise later.

Accept changes. The reality is this: people change. This means that the man you started dating six months ago will not be the same six months from now. In a long-distance relationship this is especially hard to deal with, because you are not around to watch the changes occur. Instead, you might wake up one morning to realize your once super-shy man has turned into a social butterfly. This could come as a major shock, but one important aspect of a long-distance relationship is learning to deal with those feelings and accepting the changes both in yourselves and in your relationship.

LDR's are definitely hard work. However, it can also be extremely rewarding, with tons of ways to grow personally and in your relationship.

Regardless, not every LDR is meant to be. How can you tell if it's time to call it quits?

College equals one thing for many students and that's freedom. You are finally away from your parents, your boring hometown and any restricting rules from the past. You don't need to check in with mom or dad before going out with the girls and there is nobody to make sure you get to bed on time.

Relationships, on the other hand, are all about commitment and restriction. Having a relationship in college, especially a long distance romance, seems downright ridiculous to some. You both want to fully enjoy your college lives – but that's near impossible when your other half is half-way across the country.

Here are a few situations and suggestions to take into consideration when dealing with a long-distance relationship.

You have a crush on someone else. Stop right there. This is exactly why long distance relationships tend not to be satisfying in college. College is the time to explore yourself and your options; not a time to feel guilty when you find yourself staring at that cute boy in Sociology class with the shaggy hair and Johnny Depp-esque eyes. If you feel even a little inkling that you might want to see other people, it's time to wave buh-bye to your cross-country lover and try to connect with someone a little more accessible.

Lack of proximity = lack of touch. Any relationship, no matter if sexual intercourse is involved or not, thrives on the ability to touch one another. Not only is touch essential for humans to develop normally, it is also tres essential in relationships. Basically, when your beau is hours away, you can't call him up for a late-night cuddle sesh. This lack of physical closeness can put a damper on even the steamiest of relationships. If you find yourself craving a little smooch fest too often, it may be time to ditch the long-distance romance.

But, why? This is an all too common problem. There seems to be no real reason to end the relationship besides the distance factor. Sure, your sweetie resides miles away, but your relationship is peachy. This would be fine if you weren't in college – a crucial time for discovering yourself and your interests. Take a real look at your situation and evaluate it. Is it really possible that this kind of relationship isn't putting any kind of restriction on you, and possibly slowing your development as an adult in college? Odds are, it is, in one way or another. Take an honest look at your current situation and you could be surprised.