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How do you know if you're miserable in a relationship?

Common Signs You May Be Feeling Unhappy In Your Relationship You look for excuses not to see your partner. You feel the urge to be with someone else. You think you would be more comfortable living a different life. You are not attracted to your partner anymore.

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Are you struggling in your relationship? Research suggests that around 40 percent of people in relationships feel unhappy at some point. It can be perfectly normal to go through; many relationships experience ebbs and flow in the enjoyment or happiness felt. Knowing the reasoning behind it can help you take action to increase satisfaction in your relationships. It’s Okay To Feel Unhappy In Your Relationship. The First Step Is Reaching Out. Talk To A Relationship Expert When you're in an unhappy relationship, you might feel stuck. You may not want to leave the relationship but feel your expectations have not been met. In this case, you can make a choice. It could feel easier to break up with your partner if you are unhappy in a relationship. However, if you want to try to increase joy and satisfaction in your relationship, there are a few steps you can take that may help: Evaluate the problem - Determine what's causing you to feel unhappy in the relationship - Determine what's causing you to feel unhappy in the relationship Choose a response - What you do to improve your situation may depend on what you discover when evaluating the problem

Common Signs You May Be Feeling Unhappy In Your Relationship

Signs you may be in an unhappy relationship include: You look for excuses not to see your partner

You feel the urge to be with someone else

You think you would be more comfortable living a different life

You are not attracted to your partner anymore

You're using substances to avoid thinking about your conflicts

You feel disrespected

You're irritable or angry often

You feel sad when you're with your partner

You're "only in it for the kids, house, pets, or [fill in the blank]."

You're struggling with mental health concerns due to conflicts in the relationship

You're unsure if you want to commit to your partner

You find yourself chasing how you felt in the past

You no longer love your partner

You feel resentment toward your partner

You feel as if you are settling

If any of the signs above resonate with you, it could indicate that you are unhappy in your relationship. Although most partnerships go through hard times and changes in satisfaction, if you're not having any good times with your one partner, it could indicate a deeper problem. Long-term, staying in an unhappy relationship could be unhealthy for your and your partner's mental health.

Evaluate the Situation: Are There Other Factors Contributing?

Before you identify your relationship as the source of your unhappiness, consider evaluating other factors that could impact your feelings towards your partner. Doing so can allow you to see if other feelings are masquerading as relational discord. When dealing with internal issues, many people find themselves projecting these feelings onto partners subconsciously. Possible sources of internal discontent are:

Depression

Loneliness

Financial worries

Parenting concerns

Unhappiness at work

Relationship conflicts with friends or family

With many of these concerns, dissatisfaction, irritation, or sadness can spread to your relationship. Because you're emotionally and physically close to your partner, you may let down your guard and unintentionally hurt their feelings. This kind of projection may cause bitterness and discontent on both sides.

How To Increase Happiness In Your Relationship

Increasing happiness in an unhappy relationship may be an option. Since your parallel lives are affected, both should feel enthusiastic about finding a solution. First, pinpoint the issue and the feeling you're experiencing. Second, set a time with your partner to discuss your concerns and hear theirs. Consider your goals for the conversation. Do you want space? Do you need to break up? Do you need to change a pattern in your individual life? Have an idea of your game plan regardless of the conversation's outcome. You might be surprised that your significant other is on the same page or open to supporting you through these concerns.

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Next, come up with a plan to find solutions. This stage is where a qualified counselor can be beneficial. Because they have experience in various concerns, having a third party to support you may make the process easier than working on it alone. When working through these personal concerns, many people also see an increase in joy in their relationships. If you decide that an external factor is not your primary issue, evaluate what about your relationship is making you unhappy. Try to be as specific as possible in pinpointing the exact area of discontent.

Some every day unhappy relationship struggles could include:

Communication issues

Picking fights

Difficulties with emotional connection

A lack of emotional support from your partner

Disagreement in financial topics or behaviors

A lack of time spent together and in other interests

A division of labor that feels unfair to one or both parties

Parenting differences

Incompatible life goals

Unfulfilling sex life

You may get caught up in a cycle of negative thoughts when you're unhappy. Negative thoughts and ruminations can cause problems to persist. However, studies show that speaking with a trained counselor effectively treats unwanted rumination patterns. Once you've identified the root of your discontentment, reflect on the positive aspects of your relationship. Spend some time identifying healthy habits in your connection. A counselor may be able to help you come up with a list if you're unsure. Write out your feelings about the relationship, both positive and negative. If you decide to converse with your partner about these concerns, having the list available may help you steer the conversation. It can also help with clear communication.

Communicate Clearly

Communication often works best when done respectfully and intentionally. To do this, both you and your partner will commit to active listening. Choose your words carefully, and resist casting blame on your partner. Use "I feel" statements to express your feelings and suggest the best way your partner could support you. For example:

"I feel sad that we aren't spending as much time together lately."

"I feel angry that you used my phone without asking."

"I feel scared that we aren't going to last."

"I feel concerned because I don't know how you're feeling right now."

Listen to your partner's response and, even though you've been vulnerable in expressing your needs, carefully and calmly consider what they have to say. Understand that your partner might internalize your feelings, and they may become sad, upset, or angry. Although you do not need to feel responsible for their emotional state, using empathy may help when trying to work out your unhappy relationship issues. The heart is seeing yourself in someone else's shoes and how they may feel. Compassion may help you to respond to them with understanding and gentleness.

Tackle The Issues

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This step can take some time and commitment, but you may find that the work pays off if you intend to stay in your relationship. Take date nights, practice communication, and plan for the future.

Consider Your Future Plans

Finally, you may find it beneficial to consider your plans for the future, including whether you wish to stay with your partner or go your separate ways. This is a personal decision that is yours to make. When considering your best option, reflect on the length of your relationship, your time together, and your partner's response to your recently expressed needs. If you feel you're in a happy and healthy relationship that a few changes could improve, staying in a happy relationship may be worthwhile. All partnerships require commitment, communication, and compromise. Even relationships that seem happy and healthy from the outside may have their struggles at home. However, if you conclude that your overall relationship is not one built on love, support, and trust, you may choose to do the work of ending the relationship.

Help for Your Relationship When You're Unhappy

Support from a third party may be helpful when evaluating your options. Even if you want to find solutions or new ways to increase happiness in your relationship, a counselor could be a practical option. Online therapy is just one of your options. It includes remote connection with your couples therapist, flexibility in your schedule, and is often more affordable than traditional in-person therapy. A study by Frontiers in Psychology showed that online mindfulness-based talk therapy is especially helpful in treating psychological distress. Those seeking an individual counselor to converse with about their relational concerns may find this therapy form effective. Online counseling is also available to couples wishing to join a therapy session. BetterHelp.com offers affordable online counseling to help you on the journey of understanding why you may be feeling unhappy in your relationship. BetterHelp's sister company, ReGain, offers online couples counseling for those looking to attend therapy with their partner. You can read reviews of BetterHelp's therapists below from people experiencing similar issues.

Counselor Reviews

"Stephanie is a gem! She's very thoughtful, thorough, honest, insightful, and helpful. This is coming from a person that never wanted to do counseling and just "knew" I didn't need it. She's been key in helping my wife, and I find our better place. She made us grow as a couple and individually. Thanks, Steph!" "Within just a few sessions with Monica, I was in a much better place emotionally and mentally and had renewed hope. After a strong rift with my husband, I needed a compassionate ear that wasn't my friends or family. She listened, gave me good feedback, and assigned helpful habits. So far, everything she suggested has been working well. Thanks to her, I've made great progress, and I'm excited to continue until I'm back to me." It’s Okay To Feel Unhappy In Your Relationship. The First Step Is Reaching Out. Talk To A Relationship Expert

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