The signs of a troubled relationship can be hard to spot at first. There are many things that could lead to a strained or even toxic relationship that you might not notice initially. This is why it’s important to know the warning signs and steps you should take if they happen. The article will explore how to spot whether or not you are in a troubled relationship. And what you can do about it so that your romance doesn’t go down the drain.
1. Sex and physical contact are rare
Physical affection is one of the most important ways of expressing love. In fact research has found a consistent correlation between the amount of sex a couple has and relationship satisfaction. So if you’ve noticed that your relationship has gotten so bad that you don’t even hold hands or hug anymore, that’s a clear sign that something is wrong. It could be due to feeling ignored or neglected by your partner, or it may mean that both of you are too busy with work, school, kids, etc. Either way, it’s important to try and figure out what is going on before this becomes a major issue in your relationship.
2. Lack of communication is indicative of a struggling relationship
Many times relationships get strained because there is a lack of communication. A great way to get on the same page is to talk about your feelings, emotions, and desires with your partner. This does not mean that you should rely on your partner for everything or tell them everything that’s wrong with you. It just means that you should be able to communicate what is bothering you. Talking about more personal things can help open up new doors in your relationship and make it feel more “real”.
3. If they’re not the first person you call your relationship isn’t very strong
It might sound like an issue no one would really care about, but when you think about it, not having anyone to call in an emergency is a serious problem. It’s not always easy to find someone who will be there for you all the time or help you out when things get bad. But that doesn’t mean that people don’t want to help–they just want to know that they’re the only person you’ll need.
Every relationship has their ups and downs, but being able to depend on someone can give you the comfort and security that’s needed during difficult times.
4. Not enjoying the time you spend together hints at relationship boredom
One of the most common ways to tell if you are in a difficult relationship is when you notice that there are aspects of the relationship that seem lifeless. It’s normal for changes to occur over time but it’s not normal to not want to spend any time with your partner. It’s also not normal for you to be feeling lonely all the time.
Take some time to think about how you feel about your partner or what they mean to you. If you don’t have fun with them anymore, figure out why. If your relationship shows red flags or you no longer feel like you are friends with your partner, , then maybe it’s time to move on and find someone who is right for you.
5. Blaming Each Other is a sign of communication breakdown
Blaming one another for issues and not talking more about personal things can lead to a more volatile relationship. It’s extremely important to be able to communicate with your significant other on a daily basis.
Remember fighting and conflict is not necessarily a sign that your relationship is in trouble. All couples have significant differences and there is no such thing as a perfect relationship. What is important is that when you fight you don’t engage in unhealthy behavior like name calling or blame.
Research studies have found that the way you communicate has a huge impact on the success of your relationship. Having communication habits that are negative has the potential to significantly hurt your relationship.
6. Not Discussing personal issues with one another
This means that you should talk about everything from mundane life problems to the the finer details of your desires and emotions. Going over these types of things may seem “uncomfortable” or tedious, but that’s what makes it worthwhile.
If you’re not sure whether this is an issue your relationship is experiencing ask yourself these 3 questions
- Do my partner and I know what stresses we are each currently facing?
- Have we discussed our dreams and fears with each other? If not am I comfortable initiating this discussion at this time?
- Am I comfortable talking to my partner about my emotions and feelings as they occur?
7. One partner has mentally checked out – The biggest sign of a troubled relationship
This is usually an indication that they are not committed to your relationship. Which means you’re definitely in a troubled relationship. If this person is not willing to meet you halfway, then there’s really nothing you can do. Most couples will go through rough patches but here are definite signs of being checked out:
- Either you or your partner no longer likes talking about their feelings at all
- One person or both of you is always busy with other friends, or doing other things. So much so that it’s like you don’t have a single moment to spend with each other
- You’ve been in a relationship for years but you or your partner refuses to talk about the future or marriage.
- You have no conflict in your relationship because your partner expresses no interest in discus
If your partner has checked out and refuses to make changes, or see a marriage counselor, you may want to focus on your self instead. Because remember your happiness is not dependent on your partner
If you’re the one who has checked out then changing your behavior can be difficult. But if done carefully it can help your psyche heal. Talking with others about what you’re going through or confiding in them about what’s bothering you is also very beneficial for those who are battling depression or anxiety.
What to do if you are in a troubled relationship
It can be difficult to cope with a troubled relationship. If you feel like your relationship is on the verge of collapsing, or if you and your partner are struggling with one another, there’s no time like the present to make a change. Here are some tips to improve your relationship. The good news is that with effort, practice and perhaps couples counseling it is possible to resolve your conflicts and develop intimacy together again.
Learn Better communication
If you want to be in a healthy relationship it is imperative that you work on improving your communication skills.. Communication exercises can help tear down the walls that isolate you and your partner from each other. They can also help strengthen bonds that were starting to wear thin.
You may want to consider talking about your worries without blaming one another for any issues that may arise. One way to achieve this is by doing tons of “I” statements instead of “you” statements in everyday conversations. This will help make your partner feel less attacked when you tell them what is wrong. Something else that couples have said works for them is writing out what bothers them in a letter before going over it with their partner.
Building intimacy in your relationship
There are some ways that you can build intimacy in your relationship. One of these is to always be open with each other. You can do this by talking about things like your hopes, dreams and fears. One research study found that that two thirds of couples who were divorced complained about lack of conversation leading to reduced intimacy in their marriage
Another way is to start sharing more personal information with each other. This is something that people tend to shy away from, but it will make you feel closer to your partner if you’re able to do it honestly.
Finally, another way is to do nice things for each other without expecting anything in return. Doing nice things for your partner shows that they matter to you, and that’s something that most people find very endearing.
Initiate Physical affection
Physical affection and desire in a relationship is often overlooked. This might be because people feel embarrassed and don’t know how to naturally initiate. Or because they don’t feel like their partners will reciprocate.
The first step to initiating physical affection is making sure that both the person initiating and the person receiving want it. If you are comfortable with initiating and your partner is receptive, then it’s time to take action. Start by touching them on the arm when you ask them a question. Or by playfully pushing their shoulder when you’re teasing them.
If these things don’t work, be more straightforward with your partner, and let them know exactly what you want or what you need.
Focus on your partner’s positive qualities
A big warning sign for a troubled relationship is when either one partner or both begin to focus on all of the negatives in their relationship. However, by doing this you’re not recognizing the many good qualities that they have. It might help to write a list of their positive traits and to do nice things for them. You could also take a step back and imagine what it would be like if you didn’t have that person in your life. This could help motivate you to fix what’s wrong instead of throwing it away.
Does moving out help a troubled relationship?
Taking a break at a difficult point in your relationship can actually be helpful for the relationships health. Sometimes, when we are in relationships for so long, we find they start to become monotonous.
reevaluating your relationship is sometimes the best way to figure out whether you want it to work or not. It provides you with the opportunity to experience new things. And to create new memories without feeling guilty for leaving your partner behind. You might also come back refreshed and ready to take on the world with them by your side again
Talk things over with your partner before making any rash decisions. While other friends can provide valuable advice, ultimately this will impact you and your partners lives the most.
Even a troubled relationships can be fixed
There are so many things that you can do to work on your relationship and increase your intimacy and communication. Love is a verb, it’s something you do not something that happens. The more you work on it the more it’ll improve.
And remember your happiness is not based on who your partner is or what your relationship status is. So even if it doesn’t work out you will be okay.