WATCH FOR THESE WARNING SIGNS OF TROUBLE IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP

We are often caught off guard when trouble rears its ugly head in our marriage or relationship. If you are diligent and you pay attention, you can recognize the red flags that come up and deal with them before they become trouble for your both. If you notice any of these warning signs, you need to take action, don’t wait! Your relationship may depend upon it. The good news is that you can fix and repair relationship problems before they become deal breakers between you and your partner. If you are questioning what to do next, I advise you to get some help from a relationship professional and be willing to follow their advice to fix your problems.

• Lack of (or mostly negative) communication: If you and your partner are in a negative pattern of fighting and bickering, this is a sign that you are headed into stormy seas in your relationship. Healthy communication is crucial to a loving relationship.

• Inability to connect emotionally: If you are feeling like you and your partner just aren’t connecting, this is a huge red flag. You need to be able to make that emotional connection in order to have a loving relationship. Reach out and talk to your partner to see if you can’t find where disconnect is happening. If you can’t get there, get help.

• Most of your time is spent apart: No togetherness: If you and your partner are living separate lives and not spending your time together, this is a warning sign that you’re growing apart and losing that all important connection. You need to make a concerted effort to spend time together as a couple making memories and being in love.

• No physical closeness or sexual relationship: Living like roommates, not lovers: If you treat your partner more like a friend or roommate than a partner there is definitely something going wrong. Where is the passion, the play? Where is the physical side of your relationship? You can get it back, but make sure the emotional connection is what you work on first, then the intimacy.

• Feelings of loneliness: If you are feeling alone in the same room or bed with your partner, this is a sign that you’ve lost that emotional connection. One or both of you is isolating themselves and this is a terrible thing to do to your partner and for your relationship. Two people in a relationship should rarely feel alone. Reach out to your partner. If you’re the one who’s been withdrawn, then you need to make more of an effort to be emotionally available to your partner.

• Feelings of unresolved anger or resentment: When you’re in a pattern of negative interaction or dealing with arguments and fighting it can feel like nothing ever gets resolved. When you don’t feel like you’re being heard or validated, you can become angry and resentful, and that only feeds that negative pattern of escalating conflicts. This is a big red flag and you should definitely see a relationship counselor to help you to find out why this is happening.  

The good news is that if you are sensitive and responsive to the red flags and heed the warning signs, you can repair your relationship and make it better than ever. It’s not a mystery, the professionals have the tools and understanding of how to use them to get you and your partner back on track for a loving journey of a lifetime.