Do breaks in relationships really work?

My girlfriend and I have been having a few problems lately.

And during one especially heated bout she suggested the idea of a break.
You know, one of those feared or sought-after things where a couple has a short time-out from each other to think to themselves where they stand in their relationship.

It's not like my gf has been actively seeking to have a break, but just tonight while we were talking she told of her keeness to know what it was really like to be single again, mainly because we haven't been seeing each other much that she almost feels like we're not going out anymore.....
I've been a bit to blame for that, mainly cause I've been working my ass off to get money, ironically to spend more time with her.

I'm gonna take that with a grain of salt, and I'll deal with it as it comes.

But what I wanted to ask you guys was do you think breaks work?
What has happened in your experience?
Did you guys realise you couldn't bear to be apart any longer? XD
Or was the break just the primer for the actual break-up?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

It's a good way to get your head sorted. My boyfriend and I were arguing a lot of the time and he suggested we went on a break. At first I thought he was just using it as a precursor to actually break up with me, but after a day he asked if I would take him back. So in my experience, they're good, if completely nerve-wracking and depressing to begin with.

It's a kind of win-win situation. If she wants you back, that's great and you can work through your problems. If she doesn't, then it's better than wondering if she doesn't really want to be with you (ironically this might be one of the problems you have to work through >.> )

There's nowhere I can't reach.

A girl has said that to me once and I basically said "no, that's stupid, let's work it out", and we broke up soon after (well, a couple months later). On the other hand, I have actually said this and basically meant "break up". So my experience has been uh, mixed at best?

I don't think it's the best idea if you want to salvage your relationship, but at the same time I'm sort of the guy that (by now) feels a relationship isn't really "salvageable", it either works or doesn't. Anyway, I do know people that have taken breaks and are back together now and happy (like Bernard Black apparently), so it's not like it's never worked and never ever will work.

But for what it's worth, if my girlfriend said something like that, I'd start looking for someone new. I guess it depends on how much you like her?

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

that happened to me with a past girl friend. And we didn't get back together.

Generally (like then), I feel it is lame because to me I think about "Would you take a break from marriage if need be?". A bit extreme, I know, but that does come to mind.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

She'll be on the "break" until she finds another guy to replace you.

And if she doesn't, she'll stay with you until she does.

That's the way it goes. Better plan ahead and gather some phone numbers now.

I was speaking idiomatically.

I've never personally gone through one but a really good friend of mine took one and it did wonders for her and her boyfriend. They took some time apart and through that she realized how much she enjoyed being with her guy. They've been together for 6 years now.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?