How To Know If Your Relationship Is On the Rocks

Has your relationship just felt a little ‘off’ lately? Have you tried to pinpoint what’s wrong, and have trouble coming up with anything definitive?

Most couples experience hiccups over the course of their relationships. What determines the success in a relationship is often how the couple bounces back after adversity. By understanding when your relationship is going through a rough patch, you’ll be better able to sail through the choppy waters together, and find calm and peace at the end of it.

1. Have jokes gone from fun to uncomfortable?

Did you and your partner used to laugh and joke around with each other comfortably? Maybe this was even the reason you were attracted to them in the first place. Now – have the jokes been less about laughing with one another, and more directed at one of you? It’s one thing to make playful jokes at the other one’s expense, but it’s another when those jokes start feeling mean. It’s common for couples to use humor to deflect talking about serious issues. If your jokes seem to be hiding a hidden message, and chances are, not a good one… Then you might want to take a step back and look at where this is coming from.

2. When you start losing R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

It’s important to seek help for your relationship the second that the respect starts waning. Many couples seek relationship counseling AFTER they have lost respect for their partner. However, it’s important to look at your relationship in a critical light the second you notice this. Why? Even more important than the lack of respect is WHY you’ve started losing respect for your partner. Is it a behavior? A new pattern they’ve adopted? You need to start breaking the habits and patterns that lead to disrespect right when they begin, so as to not create a downward spiral.

3. When you start imagining a happier life without them

Have you started fantasizing about your life without your partner? Do you dream of meeting other partners in romantic situations? If so – this could be a significant sign that your relationship is in need of some TLC. While it can be normal to imagine about what your life may be like if you were single, or with someone else, it becomes problematic when these thoughts become frequent and positive. If when you imagine being without your partner frequently, and these fantasies are a source of happiness and escape for you, it’s time to examine your relationship.

Couples counseling is a wonderful option for partner’s whose relationship is in need of some repair.

Although rare and difficult, it’s actually best to go to couples counseling before you think you need it. Once you desperately need it, the work you put into your therapy is going to be harder, and the estimated time spent in therapy together is likely to be longer. Go to couples counseling when you still think you can solve the problem on your own – it might help you and partner resolve issues before they become a major problem!