How to Know if You're in an Unhappy Relationship
These signs indicate it's more than just a rough patch.

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When you've been in a relationship for a while, there will inevitably be arguments both big (like money you're spending versus saving) and small (say, when she forgets to unload the dishwasher again). Not to mention there may even be days when the mere sight of your spouse makes you want to lock yourself in your bedroom indefinitely—which is part of the reason why it can be hard to tell if you're actually in an unhappy relationship or marriage or if you're just going through a rough patch.
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First things first, it's perfectly normal to be unhappy in a relationship from time to time. But if there's a noticeable uptick in the frequency and duration of your feelings—so much so that your lives are more parallel than interwoven or you constantly prioritize friends over your partner—that could be an indication of a serious shift. Equally concerning signs: If you feel alone even when you're together, if you continually fantasize about being single, and if all your conversations turn into fights (or you stop fighting entirely).
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But just because you're feeling unhappy in your relationship, doesn't necessarily mean it's time to break up, separate, or divorce. In some cases, you can fix issues with therapy and regular check-ins, Kiaundra Jackson, a marriage and family therapist, tells Oprah Daily. In other cases, though, staying together might not be the best choice for either of you. "There are a lot of reasons people feel like they can't leave unhappy relationships—many of which are rooted in fear," says couples counselor Ronica Arnold Branson, Ph.D. "Fear of being alone, fear of being rejected, and the fear of failure—these all apply to our relationships and why we continue to stay in them even though we aren't happy." Plus, many people choose to stick it out because they have a child or they still feel deep affection for their significant other. (Yes, you can love someone but still be unhappy.)
"Ask yourself: If today is my last day, can I say that I'm in the relationship that I want to be in? That I deserve to be in?" says Branson. If the answers are no, acknowledge that what you want does matter—and that it ultimately might be worth ending your relationship.
Still not sure where you stand? Ahead, marriage counselors, couples therapists, and other relationship experts weigh in on exactly how to know if you're in an unhappy relationship.
You don't argue at all anymore.
Common sense would pinpoint having too many arguments as a relationship red flag. And while that may be true, so is the opposite: "Healthy relationships have conflict," says Stephanie Wijkstrom, a psychotherapist and founder of The Counseling and Wellness Center of Pittsburgh. "A normal dose of disagreement shows that you are investing in the growth of the relationship."
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Without that, the emotional climate of a relationship can become stagnant. "When a couple isn't bickering or disagreeing at all, that's a sign that both members of the couple have given up and are feeling hopeless about the impact they can have on each other and about the chances of the relationship changing," adds Heather Z. Lyons, Ph.D., a psychologist and owner of the Baltimore Therapy Group.
You always prioritize your friends and family over your partner.
While it's important to make time for people outside your relationship, it becomes an issue if you'd always rather see them than your partner. "When you had a good day at work, when you ran into someone you haven't seen in a while, when you find a $20 bill in your jacket pocket—who do you want to run and tell?" asks Raffi Bilek, a couples counselor and director of the Baltimore Therapy Center. "If you're in a happy relationship, odds are it's your partner. If you're not, it's probably somebody else."
Another indicator? If you find yourself over-relying on friends or family for emotional safety and support. "That's a sign that someone has lost not only the desire to bring their deeper emotions to their partner, but that they may no longer feel safe being vulnerable with them," Kimberly Ciardella, a marriage and family therapist, tells Oprah Daily.
Date night ceases to exist.
Remember when you first met and you'd squeeze in face time no matter what it took? If you stopped prioritizing quality time together (and we're not just referring to lingering dinners) it's a sign of disconnect. "Relationships take work, and when something is important to us, we make an effort to take care of it," says Ciardella. "When that effort stops, it's a sign that your relationship is losing importance and value."
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When date nights, no matter how short, become non-existent, or your partner finds excuses to avoid coming home (or vice versa), alarm bells should go off. "People use 'being busy' as a way to run away from and avoid being intimate and close," says psychologist Mary Ann Mercer. "They're also running away from their problems. They hide in all their activities and hope that things will just heal themselves, but they won't."
Of course, there are plenty of valid factors that could stand in the way of being able to carve out an entire evening—you're emotionally drained from taking care of your kids or your parents, financial stress, and so on. The key is that you're still trying to find moments for each other.
You feel like you're under a microscope.
When someone is unhappy, the smallest things tick them off. "When critical commentary or judgment outweighs intimacy, it's hard for a relationship to recover," says Ciardella. "How can you experience joy when you feel like you're constantly failing?"
There's no gratitude.
In a partnership, you do a lot for the other person—from sharing paychecks to raising children. "Feeling appreciated, feeling heard, and feeling seen are all important markers of an intimate relationship," says Ciardella. "When gratitude is lost and partners stop thanking and recognizing each other's strengths and efforts, there's less motivation to continue doing the things you are hoping your partner appreciates—and that often creates a cycle of discontentment."
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Your sex life is lacking.
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Though sex may not always equal intimacy, "it's a way for couples to show their affection and desire for one another," says Jordan Madison, a marriage and family therapist. "If sex isn't happening, it can be a sign that the couple is uncomfortable being intimate with one another, whether that's due to a lack of sexual satisfaction or not feeling emotionally connected."
Neither reason bodes well for the happiness level of your relationship, so if this sounds familiar, start by communicating your feelings. While a sexless marriage can survive, it's important that you're on the same page about your desires.
There's nothing nice to say about your relationship.
Sure, every relationship has its downsides. "But if you can only recount negative or bad memories about the relationship, then that may mean the bad is outweighing the good," says Madison. "When you're constantly feeling unhappy or unsatisfied, it may be difficult to think of happier times."
If you're making an active effort to brainstorm the pluses of staying in a relationship and still drawing blanks, you may want to rethink your status.
You feel so alone.
The very nature of being in a relationship with someone is that you're in it together. "Feeling alone can mean you're not receiving what you need from your partner—that they're not supportive or emotionally available to you," says Madison. Of course that would make anyone feel unhappy.
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A partner shouldn't be your everything, but it's important to feel that you're a team. "When a couple doesn't share their struggles and triumphs with one another, this leaves an ally, someone who may be one's primary champion, in the dark on the details of their life," says John Duffy, a psychologist and relationship expert.
There's contempt between you and your partner.
"It's puzzling, but we often save our worst, in terms anger, for our significant others," says Duffy. Treating your partner as inferior is a recipe for discontent. In fact, "contempt is the single greatest predictor of divorce," says psychologist Caroline Fleck, Ph.D. "Whether that's name calling, mocking, laughing at someone's position, eye rolling, or scoffing, the result is that the offended party feels worthless, and in some cases even despised." Not exactly how you expect to feel in a loving relationship