Signs You Should End Your Relationship

As the saying goes, the good things in life take the most work—and relationships are no exception. Relationships are hard work. They require a high level of commitment and accountability from both parties, as well as patience and selflessness. That said, not all relationships warrant this hard work. Healthy relationships are balanced and equally beneficial for both partners. If the relationship becomes unbalanced, the relationship may need to be terminated. If any of the following sounds familiar, you and your partner should evaluate whether your relationship is worth saving.

• The frequency that you fight with your partner has increased substantially. Every couple has disagreements every now and then, but when the frequency that you and your partner fight increases, and your fights become more intense, the added stress may make your relationship not worth saving.

• The frequency that you are intimate with your partner has decreased substantially (without a legitimate explanation). While it is normal for the frequency of intimacy to subside as your relationship matures, a sudden decrease, or a substantial decrease in intimacy could indicate that your partner has lost interest in you, or that he or she has started an intimate relationship with someone other than you.

• You no longer look forward to spending time alone with your partner, or you feel as though he or she would rather spend time with others than with you. One of the basic reasons why we enter into relationships is to have someone with whom we can enjoy sharing our lives with. If you no longer enjoy spending time with your partner, or he or she does not enjoy spending time with you, what’s the point of continuing the relationship?

• You feel as though your partner is trying to change you to be the person he or she wants you to be, rather than loving you for who you are (or vice versa). True love is about acceptance. Rather than trying to change your partner, or your partner trying to change you into an ideal partner, you both are better off finding someone who will meet your expectations without going through any sort of transformation.

• You find yourself looking outside of the relationship for things you should find in your partner (compassion, a confidant, etc.). Essentially, your partner should be your best friend. He or she should be the person you go to share your most intimate secrets, who you go to talk about a rough day at work and should be the person who comforts you when you need it. Whenever you go outside of your relationship for the comfort your partner is supposed to provide, that is a good sign that he or she is not providing you with what you need.

• You or your partner have become more secretive. Regardless of whether you are in a relationship, you deserve privacy. However, if you are in a relationship, sharing information, such as your whereabouts or plans for the weekend, is a common courtesy. If your partner acts like you are invading his or her privacy when you inquire about said information, chances are they are up to no good, or do not want you involved in their lives. To the contrary, if you find yourself becoming defensive when your partner inquires about trivial information, you may want to reevaluate the relationship.