The sad fact is, it's tough to let go of certain remnants of past relationships. We all carry old baggage and perhaps a few scars from relationships gone bad. It's important to address this history — and the role it may play in your current relationships — if you want to move on and enjoy a healthy and satisfying relationship with your current partner.

Old Baggage That Can Haunt You

Here are some types of past relationships (and relationship problems) that can hinder your ability to be truly intimate with your current partner:

• Parental issues. If you've had problematic parental relationships, this can be a lifelong obstacle to happy relationships if you don't learn to deal with it. Common problems include parental abandonment or absence, an abusive parent, and a parent who didn't show emotion or affection. On the opposite end of the spectrum is the overly affection or too-attached parent who may have trouble cutting the cord, thus making it difficult for you to fully devote yourself to a romantic relationship.

• Abusive partners. If a past partner was abusive in any way — physically, mentally or verbally — it may be very tough for you to trust another partner and let your guard down. You need to recognize that the abuser was to blame for her actions, and you weren't responsible for her behavior. You also can't assume your current partner will treat you the same way.

• Relationships lacking passion or affection. If you had a previous relationship that lacked a spark, you may have gotten accustomed to that status quo, so you might need to make an extra effort to rekindle that Romeo or sex kitten that is buried inside you but is dying to be set free.