RELATIONSHIP ADVICE
How to Recognize The Breaking Point in a Relationship
Sometimes, especially when one’s prone to putting on rose-tinted glasses, it can be hard to discern that you’re already reaching the breaking point in a relationship.
Or perhaps you’ve tried working things out with your partner, but you keep returning to the same terrible cycle. As you attempt to “bury” every conflict, it appears as though everything is fine — that is, until another issue arises, at which point you resume arguing about the same things all over again but in a different font.
Understanding when a relationship has reached its breaking point is crucial since it could affect your other relationships, your career, and most significantly, your health.
Hints That Your Relationship Could Be Crumbling
To help you through it, here are some clues to be cautious of, as these could suggest you need to reevaluate your relationship:
Lack of Emotional Connection
The mere fact that you are no longer honest and open with your partner is one of the main indicators that your relationship is failing. The foundation of a successful, healthy relationship lies in the fact that both partners must be really comfortable with each other’s opinions and thoughts.
It may be an indication that your relationship is deteriorating if you find yourself holding back on talking about what has been bothering you or if you’re finding it harder to have those lively and interesting conversations that you used to have.
Diminished Desire for Physical Intimacy
It is not always a sign that a relationship is over if you are in a slump and finding it difficult to rekindle your sex life. But if the idea of your partner touching you intimately bothers you, then that becomes a problem.
Maintaining a relationship requires physical intimacy. It facilitates the release of more devoted, connected, and trusting feelings.
Aggressive Way of Communication
Your inability to agree on anything anymore is another red flag that a breakup is looming. This causes constant arguments, which in turn fuels resentment on both sides. As appealing as it may be to act aggressively to release your frustration, doing so eventually kills your mutual respect and trust.
Fantasies About Other People
Do your fantasies revolve around being in a different relationship or just sex? Is the object of that fantasy someone you know specifically?
You should ask yourself these questions to help you determine whether your fantasy is healthy or demeaning your real relationship. When these fantasies take up the energy you should be putting into your partner, then you’re already overstepping boundaries.
Wanting Different Things
This one could be harder to accept. As beneficial as it is to face life’s obstacles and be spontaneous when you have different personalities, it can be challenging to synchronize your aspirations when you have different life goals. You can’t always compromise either, especially if it means neglecting dreams that make you truly happy.
It is never a simple situation to be in, regardless of what is causing the breaking point in a relationship. With these five cautionary indicators in mind, hopefully you can identify the pattern, collaborate with your significant other to find solutions, or — best of all — seek relationship counseling.
