If you're having doubts, getting cold feet or just generally a tad confused over the status of the relationship, then read on as one relationship expert has revealed the three signs your relationship may be doomed.
Licensed counsellor and professor at Northern Illinois University, Suzanne Degges-White, shared the major tell-tale signs to look out for that may mean your mind is subconsciously telling you that you're in the wrong relationship - even if you don't realise it yet.
Suzanne began by explaining to Business Insider: "You're more likely to experience feelings of gratitude for the person you're with."
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Because of this, naturally, you'd feel actively excited to build a life together.
However, when your heart's not really in it - your mind may tell you that are, in fact, not with the right person and maybe need to reevaluate your situation.
You delay going home
Up first on the rundown is delaying home time.
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Now, this is applicable whether you live with your partner or you occasionally stay over at theirs as Suzanne says that when you're with someone you're not that into or who doesn't leave you giddy with butterflies, 'you look for reasons that you can delay spending time with that person'.
Adding: "It's a dread sometimes about being around that person or anxiety about how they're going to react."
If your partner, for example, makes you feel like you're walking on eggshells or just not entirely comfortable in their presence then you may end up finding excuses here and there to avoid going home too quick.
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This can include staying late at work, taking the long way home on purpose or seeing pals instead.
You avoid texting back
Next is pretty obvious but avoiding those unread messages from your partner should be a pretty red flag.
It can be a major sign of discomfort in a relationship, Suzanne explained.
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She added that your intuition may be trying to tell you something if you constantly find yourself apologising for 'missing their text' - when you know you've definitely seen it pop up on your notifications but didn't respond.
The expert also warned that you could be in a bad relationship 'when you find yourself engaged in self-protection, avoidance behaviours'.
You can't picture your future
And last but by no means least, is when you simply can't picture a future with your partner.
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Now, it doesn't have to be marriage, kids and all that jazz but, in a fulfilling relationship, 'you feel hopeful about the future — your focus is on what's coming next versus mistakes you've made', Suzanne says.
If you've got a partner who is constantly bringing you down, the expert adds, you can end up feeling pretty helpless and hopeless and end up avoiding thinking about what the next steps of your life together could look like because you're genuinely not looking forward to it.
Well, there you have it.
Topics: Sex and Relationships, Life
Rhiannon Ingle