Signs That the Relationship Is on the Decline

Every relationship goes through its ups and downs. But there comes a point when you have to ask yourself, “Are we just going through a rough patch, or is this the beginning of the end?” Whether you've been dating a few weeks, months or a few years, if you think your relationship might be on its last leg, take a closer look at your partner's actions, as well as your own. While some warning signs can't be ignored, others are easy to overlook, especially if you aren't ready to accept that your relationship might be coming to a close.

Touch is one of the main forms of expression in a relationship, according to Joe Navarro, author of the Psychology Today article, “Two Clues That Shout It's Over.” Couples who are in a healthy relationship touch each other often -- on the face, neck, shoulders, arms and hands -- and use their whole hands -- palms and fingers. When a relationship is on the decline, partners tend to only touch with their fingertips or for brief periods. This form of touch, known as distal touching, is subconsciously reserved for people we dislike or are merely tolerating. If he starts to use distal touching, or stops touching you all together, it's a sign that he might not have romantic feelings for you anymore. The same goes for you. If you find that you don't want to hold hands or put your arm around her, your feelings for her have probably faded away.

In a successful relationship, couples know everything about each other's inner worlds, says K. Aleisha Fetters in the Men's Health article, “5 Signs Your Relationship is Over.” When a relationship is in trouble, partners stop sharing every little part of their day and start keeping things to themselves. You can also tell that your relationship is on the decline if you start sharing the details of your life with someone else -- even a friend -- and don't tell your special one about the exchange. While there's no problem with talking to others about the details of your life, hiding the conversation from him implies a shift from a couple mentality to thinking about your life as an individual, says Leigh Newman in the CNN article, “How to Tell if Your Relationship is Really in Trouble.”

Nathan Feiles, psychotherapist, private counselor and author of PsychCentral article, “6 Signs Your Marriage May Be in Trouble,” says that constant negativity is usually a sign of general dissatisfaction and frustration. While it's natural to have negative thoughts or emotions every now and then about someone you're dating, if you or your boyfriend are always dwelling on the negative, criticizing the other person or being defensive, it can be a major sign that the relationship is coming to an end. Focusing on the negative stops a partner from seeing the things in the relationship that are still good, and can also cause him to ignore any attempts to make things work.

Trust is an essential part of a healthy relationship. If you that you don't feel the same level of trust in your her as before, chances are the relationship is on the down slope. According to Feiles, lack of trust in someone you're dating may be the result of underlying concerns. Whether trust has been broken before or not, if you find yourself checking her phone, secretly stalking her, or wondering who she's with, it's not a good sign.