Common Signs of a
Troubled Relationship

It can be difficult to tell if your marriage or close relationship is in trouble or just going through minor growing pains. However, common signs of serious trouble include a lack of physical intimacy, a lack of trust, a loss of your sense of self, and divergent financial values. Try to keep the big picture in mind. One of these issues by itself might not signal a troubled relationship, although it could point to further problems ahead.

The Trouble Signs at a Glance

Financial Incompatibility

Finances can be a window into a person's values. Financial mismanagement is a huge reason that couples seek therapy or split up. For example, a spouse who values materialism and spending paychecks right away has a different set of values than a spouse who saves money and prioritizes experiences. Divergent financial values often breed resentment and signal long-term incompatibility.

Loss of a Sense of Self

The partners in many successful marriages are usually healthy individuals. They maintain their own friend circles and activities. They seek out adventures that do not always involve their partner. When a couple does everything together, they tend to feel stifled. They lose themselves and could wind up in a co-dependent relationship. Therapy can help, but sometimes each person needs to include some private time.

Invalidated Feelings

When partners often say things such as, "You're crazy," "You always complain about this," "I'm tired of hearing this," or "You're taking this out of proportion," it is a sign that they no longer consider their partner’s feelings. When partners communicate ineffectively, serious damage to the relationship will be the result. Most divorce lawyers know that without serious effort to communicate properly, a marriage is doomed.

Additional Trouble Signs

A lack of sexual intimacy has repercussions. For example, sex often slows down when children are in the picture or if the marriage is long in its term. However, if you are no longer attracted to your partner, that is a problem. Couples should also trust each other, discuss and agree on most big issues, have similar financial values, and find ways to bring out the best in each other.

Common Signs of aTroubled Relationship

The Trouble Signs at a Glance

Financial Incompatibility

Loss of a Sense of Self

Invalidated Feelings

Additional Trouble Signs

Common Signs of a
Troubled Relationship