Six signs your relationship may be about to end

Marie-Claire Dorking
·Contributor
Updated ·5-min read
Stock photo of a man and woman looking upset to depict a couple contemplating separation as they realise their relationship is over. (Getty Images)
Is your relationship over? Experts lay out the signs that may mean it's time to call it quits. (Getty Images)

Whether it's the pressure of the festive season or Divorce Day is a thing for the A-list too, the number of celebrity splits seems to be on the rise.

Earlier this month it was reported that Sam Thompson and Zara McDermott had broken up after five years together. That was swiftly followed by Scotland's former first minister Nicola Sturgeon who announced this week that she has split from her husband, Peter Murrell. Meanwhile, Richard Hammond also recently confirmed the separation from his wife Amanda "Mindy" after 28 years.

And most recently, there are reports in Spain that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, 53, may have split from his wife of 30 years.

With the exception of Thompson and McDermott, a number of the celebrity couples breaking up recently have been in their midlife years. While the overall divorce rate has actually started to decline, according to Relate the number of couples separating in later life is actually on the up.

"We see a lot of couples in their 50s and 60s who have come to the conclusion they want different things from their later life," Ammanda Major, head of service quality and clinical practice at Relate, previously told Yahoo UK. "Children leaving home, retirement, health issues or caring for elderly relatives are often the catalyst for these kinds of discussions."

Major says an ageing population could also be a contributing factor to the rise in couples splitting after many years together. "We’re all living longer so if you’re unhappy in your marriage, you’re less likely to want to stick it out for what could be a very long time," she explains.

Couple breaking up. (Getty Images)
There are some signs to look out for that your relationship may be on the rocks. (Getty Images)

There are a whole host of reasons why couples decide to break up. If you're unsure whether to call it quits, recognising the signs your relationship is over may be helpful.

"For some people, it is a slow recognition of a number of factors that begin to emerge in their relationship, while for others, there is a defining moment – when they realise that the relationship simply can’t last, often when you realise that you no longer love the person that they are with, or sadly, that they no longer love you," behavioural psychologist Jo Hemmings previously told Yahoo UK.

"If you want to address the issues that are building up in your relationship, then the only way to truly understand whether you have a future together is to talk it through with your partner and tell them how you are feeling, however difficult it seems," she adds.

"Sometimes these feelings will be to do with something else altogether like illness or work stress, but if you don’t communicate, it will tend to get worse. If you are the one who is feeling like you don’t see a future, then it is kinder to be honest, rather than let your partner continue to suffer in fear and concern."

One of the top reasons that a relationship has come to the end of its course is a growing lack of communication or disconnect, both in and out of the bedroom.

Not feeling concerned about who they are with or what they might be doing is another sign, according to Hemmings. "Others include increasingly enjoying or looking forward to spending time without your partner; noticing flaws in your partner, where before you weren’t aware of them or even loved them for it and feeling that sex is a chore or lacks intimacy," she adds.

Dating expert, James Preece says that one of the most common reasons for couples splitting up is boredom.

"If you don’t get excited about seeing your partner anymore, then something is wrong," he says. "You’ve both stopped making an effort and are stuck in the same routines. You go to the same place, do the same things and have the same conversations over and over. It’s possible to save a relationship by mixing things up again, but if you don’t want to, then your days are numbered."

Shot of a young woman looking upset after a fight with her husband in the background
A relationship's days may be numbered when you don't look forward to seeing your partner anymore, says one expert. (Getty Images)

Resentment is also a strong factor in a break-up, says Preece. "If your relationship is strong, then you are a team," he says. "Your partner’s successes and happiness are yours too. If you are heading towards a split, then you’ll start to feel these are personal slights against you. Every comment or action they take will begin to annoy you, no matter how well-meaning they are."

Of course, arguing is also high on the list. "Most couples bicker from time to time and it’s usually a healthy way to express your feelings," says Preece. "However, if you find yourselves doing it much more than there are probably built up issues bubbling away. You’ll begin to snap at them for the tiniest little things."

But a lack of arguing can also be a bad sign, according to Preece. "Even more worrying than arguing too much is when you completely stop," he explains. "If you can’t be bothered to fight for what you want then you won’t be bothered to fight for your relationship."

Sometimes, your gut feeling is right. "If your relationship has run its course then you’ll both know deep down, even if you don’t want to admit it," Preece adds. "It will be a nagging little voice telling you that things aren’t quite right. In this situation, it’s best to talk about what’s happening and plan a separation as amicably as possible."

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