Experiencing issues in your relationship is normal. In fact, every couple experiences relationship problems every once in a while. It’s not uncommon to struggle with poor communication, money issues, disappointment, insecurity, or even boredom. But in order to build a healthy relationship with your partner, it’s important that you address some of these common relationship problems and work to solve them. Don’t shift blame and harbor resentment for your partner by sweeping things under the rug. It’s important that you tackle specific issues to try and become better partners for one another in the long term. Learn about the most common relationship issues below and find out how to work through them in your romantic relationship.
Life is getting in the way, and you’re growing apart.
The only thing that’s permanent in life is change. As you get older and go through the motions of life, you and your partner are going to change as people. Sure, most individuals will stick to their core values, but some might become different people as they navigate through different aspects of adulthood. For example, if you’ve been with your partner for a long time and you’re focused on your own goals, it can be easy to adopt different personality traits from people you’re with and eventually neglect your romantic relationship. Gone are the days of spending all of your free time together as you did in your honeymoon phase. Now, you’re caught up in a busy schedule. Maybe you’re working, going to school, or parenting. And you find that you’re not really the same person you were at the beginning of a relationship.
Even when life gets busy, it’s a good idea to start doing a weekly date night with your partner. Take up a new hobby together and try to reestablish a strong relationship. Spending quality time affects how you perceive one another and allows you to establish an emotional connection. If you find that you’re growing apart, you may just need to reinvigorate your partnership and work on your intimacy to avoid developing other relationship problems.
There’s a lack of trust in your relationship.
Trust is the foundation of any healthy relationship, and the lack of trust can really drive a wedge between you and your partner. Maybe you’ve had trouble with infidelity in the past, and as a result, your partner has developed issues with jealousy. Or perhaps you have issues with jealousy despite the fact that you and your spouse have never struggled with infidelity. In some circumstances, trust issues can be due to a low sense of self-worth. Maybe you don’t see yourself as someone who is worthy of a healthy relationship, so you question your relationship dynamics and have difficulty trusting your partner. Or perhaps you’ve had issues in a past relationship and you’re projecting some of your past issues onto your new partner.
There are a number of reasons why you might have trust issues in a partnership. But it’s important that you tackle any problems regarding mistrust because it can result in other relationship issues in the long term. Together, you need to work on being transparent. It’s the only way to show your partner that there is no reason to feel unsettled. Show up when you say you’ll show up, keep your promises, and make an effort to give your partner the validation they need to feel safe and secure in your relationship or vice versa. Talking about jealousy or insecurity openly can really make a significant difference if there’s a lack of trust.
You continue to have the same fights.
Another one of the most common relationship issues that couples face is having the same fights over and over again. This is often because they don’t examine the root of the issue. It’s normal to have disagreements, and conflict can actually help a relationship grow. But when you’re having the same fights again and again, it’s usually because you’re not tackling the underlying issue that is actually causing relationship problems in the first place. This can feel exhausting to both sides and even lead to a breakup.
To solve this, it’s important to fight in a way that’s productive. No one should be yelling about who’s at fault or showing any aggressive behavior. There’s a healthier way to talk about your relationship issues. The point of conflict in a romantic relationship is for each of you to grow and become better partners for one another. So, if you’re fighting, it should eventually end in a compromise that helps both of you feel more hopeful about your long-term relationship. First, use a calm communication style and talk about what makes you feel unsettled. Perhaps one person is dissatisfied with the way their partner behaves or communicates. Or maybe you’re experiencing personal issues that affect how you view your partner. Listen to each other’s concerns and look for the important factor that’s causing you to have relationship problems.
Reaching a compromise becomes increasingly difficult.
It’s normal to have a misunderstanding with your partner every once in a while. But if reaching a compromise becomes increasingly difficult, it may be time to reevaluate your relationship dynamics. In any long-term relationship, there shouldn’t be an imbalance of power. You should be treating each other as equals, establishing common ground, and having realistic expectations when it comes to compromising. Reaching a compromise after a fight requires good communication. You want to make a concerted effort to understand and listen to your partner. And they should do the same for you. A big part of reconciliation is having emotional conversations.
If you’re finding that reaching a compromise is becoming difficult, it might be a good idea to consider getting professional help. Couples counseling benefits romantic partnerships regardless of whether their issues are big or small. A professional can help you work on your communication skills, establish healthy boundaries, and work on any other relationship problems you may be experiencing.
Relationship issues are not uncommon. It happens to every partnership soon after the honeymoon phase is over. When you experience any of these common relationship problems, it’s important to communicate your needs and reach a compromise with your partner. Hopefully, this page has provided some insight on how you and your spouse can make your relationship work.