Has Your Relationship Gone South?

Relationships can be difficult; requiring understanding, openness, patience, commitment and a sincere desire to do what it takes to make it work. It also requires both people to be committed not only to the relationship, but to their own personal growth. If one or both partners are not open to look at their own issues, which we all have, the relationship will ultimately run aground.

People stay in bad relationships for many reasons; children, fear of being alone and the unknown that is ahead, insecurity and lack of self- confidence. All relationships have their ups and downs, arguments and disagreements. This is normal and relationships change over time as both people change. If there are no children in a relationship and you have the feeling that your relationship is a never ending horror story, it likely is, and the sooner you leave, the sooner it will end and you can begin a new chapter to go forward in your life. Your gut instincts, or feelings, will tell you the truth. Listen to them as you know at some level you already know what you have to do.
1. YOUR PARTNER IS NEVER WRONG AND HAS NO ISSUES

According to your partner you are the problem and if only you would change, everything would be alright. They have no issues and have worked everything out in their life. They never apologize and bristle at the thought that they might not know everything and vehemently deny even the possibility they may have brought some baggage into the relationship. If you believe this, I have some swamp land for sale in Florida. Everyone has issues that they need to work on. We are all ongoing works in progress. If your partner fits this description, you are in a hopeless situation and the sooner you realize it and get out, the better.
2. ARGUMENTS THAT ATTACK AND TURN PERSONAL

All relationships have arguments. There are arguments that couples get over, go beyond and may even serve to strengthen the relationship. These arguments follow rules for fighting fair. If those rules are broken, arguing begins to tear at the very fabric of a relationship, eventually destroying it. The boundaries of fair fighting are crossed when we find ourselves criticized for our personality, character or something we do other than a specific behavior we would like changed. These may be hurtful remarks about our character, physical appearance or any attribute that we have that is personal and we can’t change. There is a big difference between someone saying “I would appreciate it if you would clean up after you make yourself a snack” rather than “You’re such a slob; did you grown up in a barn? Weren’t you ever taught to clean up after yourself?” The first is an invitation to work on an issue that can be resolved without damaging the relationship. The second leaves a deep wound that will eventually kill the relationship.
3. SILENCE USED AS A WEAPON

Silence may be golden but in a relationship it can also be deadly. There are many couples who don’t speak to one another for periods of time because they are angry. This passive aggressive behavior, if used as a weapon against the other person, can be very destructive to a relationship. Silence would then be viewed as a power and control response to get something from them or to punish for something they have done.
4. LACK OF SHARING

Do you have a partner that has trouble sharing their thoughts and feelings with you? You feel that you really don’t know them and have to guess what they are thinking and feeling. Even though you have asked them to share, you are getting little from them. Healthy relationships require intimacy and sharing of ourselves with our partners, our greatest fears as well as our hopes and dreams. If your partner will not share with you, suggest they get help and offer to be there to support them in their change. It may be difficult for them to open up deep wounds from their past and if they will need your support to do so. However, if they steadfastly refuse, they are making a choice. Don’t be a martyr, move on.
5. CRITICISM

Do you get the feeling that you can never do anything right; that you will never be good enough for your partner, never be able to live up to their expectations? Do they constantly criticize you, not only in private but even in front of your family and friends? Perhaps it is to the point that you dread being with them or going out with your friends. Do your family and or friends ask why you put up these behaviors? Even though you have told your partner how it makes you feel when they treat you that way, it seems to fall on deaf ears. You deserve better than this. Get out before your self-esteem hits rock bottom.
6. LACK OF PHYSICAL AFFECTION AND INTEREST IN SEX

Over time in any relationship sexual urges and energies ebb and flow. This alone doesn’t need to cause any undue concern unless all affection goes out of the window as well. Couples whose relationship is working, take the time and effort to connect with each other through touch, hugs, goodbye and hello kisses to let each other know they still care. Does the thought of having sex with your partner seem like a chore, like doing the laundry? Worse, do you dread the thought of sleeping with, or even touching him or her? This is a good indicator that the rot has seriously set into your relationship.
7. LACK OF INTEREST IN YOUR LIFE

Couples that are close take an active interest in each other’s lives, supporting and encouraging each other. Does your partner ask you about what you are doing, how your day went or show any interest in what you are involved in? It is natural and healthy for each person to have some interests, friends, and passions separate from each other which adds vitality and strength to a relationship. As well as growing the relationship, we need to also spend some time developing ourselves as individuals. The more developed we are as individual people, the more we can offer a relationship. However, there is a problem when we stop doing anything with our partner, even preferring to spend time with friends and family. While it is good to have some of our life separate from our partner because some of our interests are different, it becomes an indicator of a relationship gone bad if we use outside interests to avoid, or get away from them.