Everything started off perfectly just like you were made for one another. You were two peas in a pod. You found the peanut butter to your jelly. The conversation flowed from the start. With each date, you grew closer and so did the bond you shared together.
But as time went on, something shifted. Now your relationship isn't what it used to be, and you're not sure you can get it back to where it was. You keep looking back at the start, wondering what went wrong.
The unknown terrifies you, but you're starting to question whether staying together is worth it anymore. Here are 5 signs it might be time to end a relationship.
1. Communication Problems
Communication is key in any type of relationship. If you notice that you and your partner aren't communicating as effectively or if your communication has dwindled to nothing, it may be a sign there's a larger issue at play. Healthy communication involves checking in throughout your day, expressing your feelings, and showing your love and appreciation. Healthy communication involves the good, the bad, and the ugly. It means that you're able to overcome any challenges that you're facing together. A lack of communication altogether shows that you and your partner aren't willing to put in the time or effort to try to improve your relationship together.
2. No Emotional Connection
If you no longer feel a certain way when thinking or being around your partner, it could be a sign that the spark is gone. Relationships need both an emotional and physical connection. Without either of those things, a healthy relationship can become unhealthy fairly quickly. Not feeling like you can open up to your partner or if you don't want to open up to them anymore means that you aren't really interested in having a deeper connection with them.
3. No Physical Connection
While your sexual wants and needs can change throughout your relationship, there's a difference between not wanting to be physically intimate with your partner versus navigating a busy season of your life. Physical intimacy helps to increase the closeness and bond that you share with your partner. It also shows them that you're still physically attracted to them. Not being interested in kissing, touching, or being intimate could mean that there are issues worth exploring.
4. Fantasizing About Others
Having a dream about someone else may scare you, but this can also be normal. Fantasies can become a problem when they start to turn into an obsession or get in the way of the existing relationship or dynamic that you have with your partner. Constantly romanticizing or picturing yourself with someone else takes your time and energy away from your partner and the effort you should be making toward them and your relationship. If you're no longer making time for your partner, emotionally or physically, it may be a good sign that the two of you should discuss your wants, needs, and next steps.
5. You Want Different Things
You were two completely different individuals who came together to form a relationship. Each of you had your own wants, goals, likes, dislikes, interests, and hobbies before coming together. Relationships require a little give, take, and compromise. If you get to the point where you don't feel like you can be supportive of your partner or if they're no longer supportive of you, you both have to determine what's worth saving.
Next Steps
While these five signs can cause worry, it doesn't mean that your relationship is over if you don't want it to be. You and your partner have the chance to turn your relationship around and make it work if that's your preference. No matter what you decide to do, a big life change like this isn't easy. A trained therapist can help you weigh the pros and cons to reach a decision best suited for your life moving forward. That could include couples counseling or individual therapy. Reach out today to set up an initial consultation.