Relationships are hard work and over time it's easy to miss some of the warning signs that things aren't going well. If you know what signs to look for, you and your partner can work together to rebuild your relationship.
Sustainable relationships - those that do not succumb to the storms of everyday life - have some key elements. You can try to incorporate these elements into your life no matter what rut your relationship is currently on. We know that sex is an important part of relationships. Unfortunately, though, what happens outside the bedroom doesn't stay there - any conflicts or fights you have can creep into your sex life. The reverse is also possible. Infidelity is one of the biggest challenges some relationships face. Does an affair necessarily mean the end of the relationship? In fact, you can work together to overcome infidelity.
How to recognize the warning signs in a relationship
There are no perfect relationships. All couples have conflicts. But the way we handle them speaks to strength or stress. If imperceptibly everyday difficulties have built up as insurmountable problems, you may find yourself in trouble. Here are some signs that may warn that your relationship is in distress:
- Few of the disputes between you ever come to a resolution.
- Most couples have the usual things they bicker about, but when they can't resolve key issues in their relationship, the relationship is in trouble.
- It feels like walking on thin ice. If you find yourself avoiding certain topics to avoid conflict, this is a sure sign that you lack security in your relationship.
- You find it difficult to seek emotional support from your partner. Emotional disconnection in a romantic relationship robs it of life. If you can't trust your partner with your emotional vulnerability, then your relationship is at risk.
- You don't spend time together without a good reason. Partners who choose not to spend time together without a good reason develop an emotional disengagement with each other. Spending time together is important for maintaining intimacy.
- Your arguments contain a critical, defensive and dismissive attitude. When you use attacks on your partner's character, insults and "labels" in your arguments; when you "read his mind" or complain in turn, the emotional security of the relationship suffers.
- It's been a long time since you showed your partner that you needed it. Shared vulnerability is how partners show intimacy. If you stop depending on your significant other emotionally, the relationship loses its meaning and you lose your closeness.
- Anger and frustration about your relationship have melted into indifference. Apathy drives you away. It is important to accept that there may be unresolved differences and disagreements. But simply giving up on a controversial topic can be a step toward giving up on the relationship.
- It appears that you are trying to control the circumstances instead of trusting your partner. Controlling actions are how a hurt or frightened partner responds to the uncertainty they experience in the relationship. Control undermines trust.
- You are afraid that if you share your thoughts and feelings, you will be criticized. If you fear that your partner doesn't care, then you are experiencing insecurity in the relationship. We usually deal with this fear by withdrawing and shutting down, but this proves to be a temporary solution, undermining trust that can jeopardize the relationship in the long run.
If you recognize yourself in three or more of these warning signs, your relationship is probablyin serious jeopardy and you should consider consulting a therapist.