Infidelity and lying are the most common issues, causing a marriage to fail. There are also silent threats that slowly destroy a marriage -- though they may appear insignificant for some couples.
Ryan Howes, a psychologist in Pasadena, California, said couples should "build and sustain" friendships outside of the relationship, according to The Huffington Post. By having friends, a person can gain new experiences, insights, and support that can improve his/her marriage.
Despite the positive results of maintaining close friendships, it's also important that these friends aren't bad influences. Laura Heck, the creator of the online couple's therapy course forBetter, said bad friends can negatively impact your own relationship and influence your mindset for the worse.
Having close friendships doesn't mean your deep bond with your husband or wife should be overlooked. Liz Higgins, a couple's therapist based in Dallas, Texas, said that "intentional conversations" that have "deeper, more open-ended questions" about the relationship should always exist between partners.
Insightful conversations between couples should be supplemented with physical touches, too. Partners who have reached the point where it's alright for them to have "special occasion only" sex such as birthdays and anniversaries are hurtling towards a marriage without sex and passion.
Debra Campbell, a psychologist and couple's therapist based in Melbourne, Australia, said everyday sex isn't necessary, but "some kind of near-daily sexual or erotic acknowledgement is important in relationships." The slightest touches are a sign of intimacy and remind both partners that they are still wanted by the other.
Having less physical contact is also a sign that your marriage has fallen into the "roommate syndrome." This arrangement means the couple's married life has become a routine, with their children, their shared space, and joint bank accounts serving as the only link between them. Being stuck in this rut can be fixed by working on a project that both partners enjoy.
Another silent marriage killer is one partner's refusal to help clean the house. The person who's always tidying up the family home can feel resentment towards his/her partner that can build up over time and explode later on.
Work can also damage a marriage. It's okay to be dedicated to your job, but it becomes wrong when the majority of your everyday life revolves around work and you become too tired to spend time with your partner, according to Business Insider.
It's a bad sign when a person doesn't have anything to talk about with their spouse other than his/her job. Prioritizing work responsibilities than the activities you normally do with your spouse is also a silent marriage killer.
