It's normal to be unhappy in a relationship from time to time, even in relationships that are healthy and loving. According to Zimmerman, we won't be happy 100% of the time in any part of our lives, relationships included.
If you are unhappy in your relationship, you need to identify the issues that are bothering you, discuss them with your partner, and work together to find solutions. If you feel like you need help, you can seek support from loved ones, or start going to a therapist or couples counselor.
Even though you love your spouse deeply, you will still feel unhappy and alone sometimes. This is normal; it's not an indicator that something has gone wrong with your marriage. There will be times when outside stressors invade your marriage and dampen your happiness.
Sometimes, couples are unhappy because they feel bored in a relationship, or because both partners have lost the physical spark they used to have. At other times, there may be extreme jealousy present in the relationship, or perhaps a severe case of emotional manipulation.
You're Unhappy
And if you're staying with someone even though you don't enjoy being with him or her, you don't feel a real connection, and you find yourself actively going out of your way to spend time away from him or her, it's apparent that you're choosing to settle.
Stonewalling is when a person in a relationship withdraws from an interaction, shuts down, and simply stops responding to their partner. Rather than confronting the issue, people who stonewall resort to evasive maneuvers.
You have an overwhelming, overall gut feeling that this relationship isn't working; you feel negatively often. You cry, complain or feel anxious about some aspect of the relationship or your partner multiple times a week. You don't enjoy spending time with your partner or need alone time more than usual.
There's a term for this: walkaway wife syndrome. This term is sometimes used to describe instances where a spouse – often the wife – has felt alone, neglected, and resentful in a deteriorating marriage and decides it's time to end it.
You don't like hanging out together anymore.
"You find yourself avoiding them as opposed to prioritizing them, and you don't miss them when you're not together." If you'd rather spend time away from them than with them, it shows that you're happier alone, which isn't what a relationship is about.
If you develop a strong dislike for the other person over time despite loving them, that's among the bold signs you're not right for each other. It's time for things to change when you don't want to be around someone and do everything to avoid going home when the day is done.
Fear of conflict.
It is a sad reality that many men (and women) stay in unfulfilling relationships month after month, year after year, because they fear the pain involved in breaking up and moving on. There are lots of reasons to stay in a relationship, but fear of conflict is not one of them.
You might feel like you're somehow indebted to this person, or be afraid of what others might think if you leave the relationship. Fear. Many people feel afraid of leaving an unhappy relationship. Sometimes, fear might be legitimate — perhaps your partner is abusive, and you're afraid of what might happen if you leave.
Overly controlling behavior is a common red flag in relationships. People that try to control your movements, decisions, or beliefs are more concerned about what they want than what is best for you. If a guy or girl tries to control what you wear or where you go, this could be a red flag.
There's No Emotional Connection
One of the key signs your relationship is ending is that you are no longer vulnerable and open with your partner. A cornerstone of happy, healthy relationships is that both partners feel comfortable being truly open to sharing thoughts and opinions with one another.
Some couples argue just once a month or once every two to three months, Brown says, while others may argue once a week, depending on where they are in their relationship.
Many have asked, “what are backburner relationships?” Backburner relationships describe partnerships where you maintain communication with someone from your past or an ex should your present relationship not work out. According to psychologists, many of us can't detach from an ex.
It might feel like having noticeably less interest in your partner and feeling less excited about spending time with them, even though you still care about them.
A one sided relationship is when one half of the couple invests way more time and effort into the relationship than the other, causing an imbalanced relationship. Most people in a long-term relationship understand what it's like to feel like you're putting in more time and effort than your partner.
You're in the right relationship if you feel your partner is there for you when you need support, and that the relationship is overall a great addition to your life. In short, it's adding value to the joy you experience in life. Conflict in a relationship is inevitable and normal.