All married couples have disagreements or problems from time to time. However, repeating unhealthy patterns may be a sign to seek outside help. Seeing a marriage counselor can help you and your partner deal with your problems and even deepen your relationship. Here are six crucial signs that you should seek out a marriage counselor.
No Longer Communicating
Communication is necessary in any relationship but vital in a marriage. When you and your partner are not sharing the details of your day or having striking-up dinner conversations, that silence is a sign of a problem.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, if trying to have a conversation leads to arguments, that too is a sign. When one partner does not want to talk to another out of fear of starting an argument, it is a sign that there is a communication breakdown.
Life Changes
Life is never smooth sailing. Sometimes, life changes such as a new baby, new home, new job, or relocating across the country can stress a marriage. If the stress continues to build, it could have a lasting effect on the relationship. Marriage counseling can help with communication and even provide tools for dealing with stress together.
Roommates Instead of Lovers
Affection and intimacy is a significant part of a healthy marriage. When the intimacy disappears, couples feel more like roommates and less like partners. One or another partner may start feeling dissatisfied or unhappy. Also, if one partner withholds all forms of affection as a punishment, it will lead to problems, too.
Feeling Lost, Hopeless, Stuck
When one partner feels lost, hopeless, or stuck in the marriage, it is a red flag that something is wrong. When one partner or both feel stuck, there is no way to move forward within the relationship. This would lead to the terrible feeling that there is no hope for the marriage. Turning to counseling, however, may be the life the relationship needs.
No Sense of Trust
Trust issues do not usually develop overnight. They are most often a combination of several other problems. Most of the time, trust issues happen when spouses stop communicating. When one spouse feels the other is lying or withholding information, it eats away at the trust. However, jealously or constantly accusing or questioning a partner also signals a problem. All are signs that the marriage needs help.
Infidelity or Thoughts of Infidelity
Have one of you had an affair or at least thought about having one? The act of being unfaithful can devastate a relationship. Dealing with sadness, loss, betrayal, confusion, and other emotions may be too much to do on your own. However, it does not mean the end of the relationship. Having a safe space to discuss feelings and reasons for the affair will be an advantage to repairing the marriage.
There are many benefits to going to see a marriage counselor. Studies show that couples who seek out counseling have a higher marriage success rate than those who do not. Therapy can give you the tools to navigate through the problems in your marriage.
Published by: Martin De Juan
