Every relationship goes through a rough patch now and then. No relationship is perfect. Still, it is amazing at the number of couples who split up with questioning looks on their faces, wondering what went wrong.
What usually goes wrong is the fact that couples tend to avoid relationship warning signs when they first appear. They either dismiss them as unimportant or put them on the backburner, promising to deal with them at a later date.
The time to deal with relationship trouble signs is now. Here are some signs to look for in your own relationship.
- Emotional distancing. Emotional distancing occurs when one or both partners stop engaging in emotional intimacy. Conversations are suddenly geared around the mundane activities of day to day living. There is little discussion of hopes and dreams. Instead of never running out of things to say to one another, you will find that you rarely have anything to talk about. There is also a noticeable lack of laughter and fun when you are together, which means added stress in your relationship.
- Physical distancing. Physical distancing occurs when one or both partners stop wanting to spend time together. This can translate in a couple of ways. One way is by spending less time doing things together that you used to enjoy. It could be something as simple as watching TV together. If you find yourselves spending more time in separate rooms than in the same room, this is a good indicator that something is wrong. If you find that you had rather spend time with friends than with your partner, this is also an indicator that your relationship is in trouble.
- Sexual distancing. If your once active sex life has diminished into little more than a flicker, this is a sign that something is amiss in your relationship. Many things can affect a sexual relationship. Some of these factors include age, hormone or testosterone levels, and/or sexual dysfunction. This can be an embarrassing topic for some couples to talk about, but it need not be. Talking about it can open the door for new forms of sexual intimacy, including ways to restore the kind of intimacy you once had before. Until you bring it out in the open, you cannot fix the problem.
If you become more mindful of your relationship, you will notice when there is distancing in any of these three areas. The time to deal with the issue is when you notice it. Don’t wait until your relationship is over.
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