First comes love, then comes marriage — and then comes the inevitable decline into boredom, stale sex routines and constant bickering. Or so says every popular television show featuring American family life. From TV shows like “The King of Queens” to “Everybody Loves Raymond” to as far back as “The Honeymooners,” Hollywood wants us to believe that long-term, committed relationships are the opposite of sexy.

And, as the divorce rate in our country testifies, Hollywood has us convinced. Most Americans consider long-term monogamy to be the equivalent of cruel and unusual punishment. However, as a relationship therapist, I have also found the opposite to be true — people want their marriages to work. They desperately want to live happily ever after. They just don’t know how. As more time goes by and the relationship becomes more off-track, they begin to lose hope, until they eventually just give up on the marriage.

Bored with monogamy? Fall in love again - In the Bedroom with Dr. Laura Berman - TODAYshow.com