Is Your Relationship in Trouble? Here's What You Need to Know

The best relationships are ones in which both partners feel close, connected and supported. That's why it can be such a shock when things start to fall apart. But it happens more often than you think: people who once loved each other find themselves unable to talk, stuck in destructive cycles of conflict or even suffering physical abuse at the hands of their partner. If your relationship is showing signs that something isn't quite right, don't panic! There are some common behaviors that may indicate you're headed toward trouble if they continue unchecked. Here's what they look like:

If you don't feel close to your partner anymore, you're probably not.

If you're not feeling close to your partner, it's time to talk about it.

If you don't feel close to the person with whom you share a bed and home, it may be time for a serious conversation about what's going on in your relationship. But how can you tell if distance is just part of being an adult or something more serious? There are signs that can help guide your decision:

• If this isn't an isolated incident--if there have been multiple times when one or both partners didn't feel connected--then there might be something deeper going on than simple busyness or fatigue from work/family responsibilities.

If you can't talk about what's bothering you, it's time to call a counselor.

I know this may sound like an obvious sign of trouble in your relationship, but there are many couples that feel like they can't talk about their feelings or problems because they fear the other person will get angry or upset. If this sounds like something that might happen in your relationship, then I would highly recommend finding someone who specializes in helping couples work through these issues (a psychologist).

If your partner is putting down your friends and family, that's a red flag.

If your partner is putting down your friends and family, that's a red flag. If you feel like your partner is trying to control you, that's a red flag. And if they're trying to change who you are or how much time you spend with friends or family members? That could be another sign that something isn't right in the relationship.

If their behavior doesn't change after talking about it with them, then we suggest seeking out professional help from an expert counselor or therapist--or even talking to someone else who has been through similar experiences (like one of our readers!).

If you're stuck in a cycle of arguing over the same thing, it's time to get help.

If you find yourself stuck in a cycle of arguing over the same thing, it's time to get help. This is common in relationships and can be a sign that the relationship is unhealthy. There are ways to break out of this cycle and build trust again, but it takes work from both partners. A counselor or therapist may be able to help you do that.

When one person dominates the conversation and doesn't give space for others to talk, that's a problem.

If you feel like your partner is dominating the conversation and not giving space for others to talk, that's a problem. It can be difficult to speak up when you don't feel like your voice is being heard--but it's important that both of you get a chance to speak about what matters most in the relationship.

If your partner is trying to control what you do or who you see outside of the relationship, that's controlling behavior.

Controlling behavior is when a partner tries to control what you do or who you see outside of the relationship. This can include:

• Telling you who to see and where to go (like friends and family).
• Preventing you from going out with friends or family members.
• Making sure that all of your time is spent together, even if it means ignoring your own interests or needs.

It's OK for parents to disagree sometimes -- but if one of you feels like they can't talk about something without being attacked, that's not healthy communication.

Communication is the key to a healthy relationship. If you don't feel like you can talk about things, it's time to get help. It's also important for partners not to put down each other's friends or family members because that can create unnecessary tension between them -- and if one of your parents has an opinion on something and the other doesn't agree with it, that's normal! But if they try and control what you do or who you see, that might be a sign of problems in your relationship too.

Have an open conversation with your partner about what they're feeling and where they think things are headed if nothing changes.

• Discuss what you want out of the relationship, including what makes it work, who is responsible for making things work and how you can both contribute to that goal.
• Discuss what changes need to be made in order for both of you to feel better about your relationship going forward and whether those changes are realistic (or even possible) given your current circumstances.
• If these conversations don't lead anywhere, it may be time to consider ending things before they get worse--but only after considering all other options first!

Conclusion

I hope you've found these tips helpful! If you're concerned about your relationship, don't be afraid to reach out for help. Counselors can help couples work through issues that are getting in the way of their happiness and satisfaction with one another.

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