6 Signs Show You Are in a Dying Relationship and Is Time to Let Go

Have you been feeling just “so-so” about your partner and your relationship?  Not love, not hate, but just kind of blah and indifferent? After trying to infuse some passion and play into your dynamic, are you not seeing any results?  And, even worse, do you not even care anymore?

It may be time to call it quits.  But how do you know that the relationship is dying, and unable to be brought back to life?

Here are some things to think about as you work your way towards this major decision. How will you know that you are already in a dying relationship and need to let go of it? Read on to find out more. 

1. Your communication is non-existent

You used to look forward to having deep, meaningful conversations with your partner.  You could not wait for the weekend when you could just sit around together and remake the world, discussing politics or celebrity gossip.

Now, you don’t even bother to bring up things that you’d like to work on in the relationship because you know that nothing will improve. You and your partner just go about your own business, living like roommates (if you live together), whose paths cross from time to time. 

2. Your sex life is non-existent

Sex is always a barometer in a relationship, a measure of how connected you both are feeling. 

When you’ve lost the emotional connection, the physical one is quick to follow.  If you are still having sex, but it is passionless, dull and routine, you need to start evaluating if this is the end of the relationship.  

Sex for sex sake can become a sad situation, one that can have a negative impact on your sense of self-worth. 

If this is where you are, it is time to acknowledge that you are living in a dying relationship which is nearing its end. 

3. The day to day affection just isn’t there anymore

It used to be that you could not be in the kitchen together without one of you drawing the other close for a quick, passion-filled kiss before turning back to finish the dishes.  Watching TV together also meant snuggles (often ended up with sex on the couch!). But all of that is now gone.

In fact, you go out of your way to avoid any contact with your partner at all.  If still sharing a bed, you are careful to stay on your side. The thought of them touching you repulses you.  You dress privately, uninterested in allowing them to glimpse your body. The thrill is gone.

It’s time to put this relationship to bed, and move forward. 

4. You hesitate to make future plans with your partner

By plans, we mean something as small as talking about what you want to do this weekend, or as large as planning your summer holidays.  If you dread the weekends because they mean spending concentrated time together (with nothing to talk about), then that is a sign that your relationship is on its way out.

If the thought of planning a three-week vacation with your partner seems like too much of an effort for no reward, it may be time to break up. 

A healthy relationship is one where you cannot wait to get to Friday night so you can have the entire weekend in front of you to be together, and you are overjoyed at the thought of a long summer holiday just the two of you, somewhere sunny and warm where good talks, lovemaking and unstructured time together spell couple happiness. 

5. You are always annoyed at your partner

Everything they do seems to bother you.  Those little habits that you thought quirky and funny at the beginning of the relationship are now sources of irritation.  You look at your partner not with warmth, but with disappointment (or worse, disdain). You openly criticize them when out with friends.  Your baseline mood around them is “angry”.

If this sounds familiar, it’s time to say goodbye. 

6. You look at other people and fantasize about them

When your relationship was in full love mode, checking out other people wasn’t part of your vocabulary.  Your partner was enough.

But, now your eyes linger a little longer on that hot guy in accounting or that handsome man you’ve seen on your daily commute.  You sense you are giving off an “available” vibe, yourself. Your daydreams are filled with what it might be like to be out of your current relationship so you could start again with someone else. 

If you are still having sex with your partner, you often fantasize that it is, well, that guy from accounting that you are making love with.  Your man just isn’t doing it for you anymore.

Relationships are not always soft clouds, silly kittens and hot-hot sex

It is normal for passion to die down a little bit over time.  All long-term relationships go through periods of routine.  It is also normal to have conflicts and arguments.  But a healthy relationship, one that is not dying on the vine, deals with these issues, and, more importantly, is invested in dealing with these issues.

Dionne Eleanor, Relationship & Empowerment states,

So many people get confused about what to do in relationships; this is why I am on a mission to encourage everyone to consider some sort of relationship support so they can make better-informed decisions when life gets difficult. This could be in the form of books, a therapist, a course, or a mentor. The key is simply finding a tool that is effective and aligned.

When a relationship is past its expiration date, there is little or no interested in a course correction.

The ultimate proof that you are in a dying relationship is not the feeling of hating your partner.  It is the feeling of indifference, of not caring about their thoughts, feelings, and welfare. And as painful as the idea of a breakup may be, it is better to respect this natural ending to your relationship, than to continue to let it go on just idling, with no mutually-shared happiness or joy.

Dionne Eleanor further adds,

We can change the way we look at breakups. A Relationship can still be considered a beautiful successful one, even if it has come to the end of its road. It’s important to honor with gratitude what we experienced and let go if it is the best thing for all involved.

Expert Q&A

What if my partner is always distant but starts giving me attention when I suggest ending things?

Jennifer Jacobsen Schulz

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Expert Answer

It's possible that your partner is dealing with some personal stressors or is unsure about the relationship. They may be emotionally distant because they are struggling with something but are not ready to end the relationship. Their efforts to give attention when you mention ending things are to save the relationship. It's best to sit down and discuss this problem openly. Mention that you've noticed the pattern of them withdrawing but then giving attention when you talk about leaving. Tell them you'd like to get to the root of the problem.

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The Marriage.com Editorial Team is a group of experienced relationship writers, experts, and mental health professionals. We provide practical and research-backed advice on relationships. Our content is thoroughly reviewed by experts... Read more to ensure that we offer high-quality and reliable relationship advice. Read less