

{"id":69915,"date":"2021-09-22T07:19:31","date_gmt":"2021-09-22T07:19:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/?p=69915"},"modified":"2022-12-16T10:10:27","modified_gmt":"2022-12-16T10:10:27","slug":"struggling-relationship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/struggling-relationship\/","title":{"rendered":"25 Ways to Save a Struggling Relationship"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-69920\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/ways-to-save-a-struggling-relationship.jpg\" alt=\"Supportive Beautiful Wife Touching Husband's Arm During Psychotherapy Session for Married Couples With Problems\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is your relationship troubled?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being in a struggling relationship is exhausting. You may be arguing more than you&rsquo;re smiling, or you may feel like you&rsquo;re trying to fix a troubled relationship all on your own.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are overwhelmed by confusion and hurt feelings, don&rsquo;t despair. Every relationship has its ups and downs. It is entirely normal to feel frustrated due to these struggles.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The good news is: you can find<a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/14-ways-to-keep-your-relationship-strong-healthy-and-happy\/\"> happiness in your relationship<\/a> again.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>25 ways to save a struggling relationship<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are 25 ways to fix a relationship struggle and find happiness with your partner.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>1. Don&rsquo;t ignore the problem<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As tempting as it may be to ignore the problems lurking in your struggling relationship, don&rsquo;t give in! There&rsquo;s a saying that goes: &ldquo;You can&rsquo;t change what you don&rsquo;t acknowledge.&rdquo;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want to fix a troubled relationship, you need to bring your issues to the forefront and be willing to deal with them head-on.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>2. Work on building trust<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Studies show that<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/news.northwestern.edu\/stories\/2013\/02\/trust-makes-you-delusional-and-thats-not-all-bad\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">relationships are more satisfying<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> when partners trust each other.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trust allows partners to feel at ease around each other. They don&rsquo;t need to worry about what their spouse is doing when they aren&rsquo;t around. There is no heartbreak to look out for.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Building trust is essential for any relationship, especially one where trust has been fractured.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Work on rebuilding trust by:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Communicating openly<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being honest about your feelings<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keeping your promises<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Showing you are reliable<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being transparent<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><h3><b>3. Evaluate why you&rsquo;re together<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do you constantly find yourself thinking: &ldquo;I need help with my relationship&rdquo;?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Problems can overwhelm a relationship. If you are often arguing, it may cloud the happiness you once felt. One tip for saving a struggling relationship is to re-evaluate why you got together in the first place.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rediscover the passion you once felt for your partner by doing a deep dive into all the things you love and respect about them.<\/span><\/p>\n<pre><strong>Related Reading:<em>&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/appreciating-and-valuing-your-spouse\/\"><em>Appreciating And Valuing Your Spouse<\/em><\/a><\/pre>\n<h3><b>4. Take responsibility for your part<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The quickest way to doom your struggling relationship is to play the blame game.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead of arguing over who did what, take the mature route and accept responsibility for your part in your unhappy relationship.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When your partner sees you&rsquo;re willing to humble yourself, they&rsquo;ll likely follow suit.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>5. Make eye contact<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eye contact plays a big role in how satisfied and connected you feel in your marriage. Eye contact creates a heightened <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/intimacy\/how-important-is-intimacy-in-a-relationship\/\">sense of intimacy<\/a>, which can be beneficial for you and your partner to save your struggling relationship.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>6. Learn how to communicate<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-69922\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/learn-how-to-communicate.jpg\" alt=\"Lesbian Couple Talking to Each Other in Living Room\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A relationship troubled by ineffective communication can be incredibly frustrating.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Communication helps you and your partner problem-solve, work as a team, and get to know each other on a deeper level.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn how to make things work by using these communication tips:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Listening respectfully, without interruption<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Genuinely taking an interest in your partner&rsquo;s words<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Putting your phone on silent when speaking with your spouse<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Working on the problem as partners, not enemies.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><pre><strong>Related Reading:<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/communication\/8-tips-to-improve-communication-in-your-relationship\/\"><em>&nbsp;20 Ways to Improve Communication in a Relationship<\/em><\/a><\/pre>\n<h3><b>7. Write each other letters<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A relationship struggle will only be made worse if you can&rsquo;t talk about your feelings, but sharing feelings isn&rsquo;t easy for everyone.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&rsquo;s a lot easier for some people to write about their feelings instead of saying it out loud. If you have an issue you want to talk to your spouse about but can&rsquo;t seem to verbalize, a letter is a great way to go.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>8. Get a therapist involved<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If learning how to make things work feels impossible on your own, don&rsquo;t be afraid to get a professional on your side.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A<a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/counseling\/what-to-consider-when-choosing-a-marriage-counselor\/\"> marriage counselor<\/a> or relationship therapist can help guide you and your spouse in the right direction if you feel like you don&rsquo;t know where to start.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>9. Avoid relationship traps<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the best pieces of struggling <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/\">relationship advice<\/a> you can follow is to avoid traps that, at first, may seem like they can save your relationship. These traps include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Getting a pet<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having a baby<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moving away together<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These things may act as a band-aid at first, but in the end, they will only enhance the problems in your relationship.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>10. Do something fun together<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spending quality time with your partner is shown to<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4712716\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reduce stress<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and improve happiness.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are struggling in a relationship, you can do to jumpstart the healing process to plan something fun to do together. Go on a trip, plan an elaborate date night, or do something, you both love.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>11. Take up a hobby<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do you find yourself saying, &ldquo;I need help with my relationship&rdquo;? Taking up a new hobby with your spouse can promote teamwork and communication. Plus, it&rsquo;ll be fun!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A study published in<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1177\/026540759301000205\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SAGE Journals<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> found that shared activities promote marital satisfaction. Couples who spend time together doing new and exciting activities were happier than couples who spent time together doing activities marked as pleasant.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>12. Bring the romance back into your relationship<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-69924\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/bring-the-romance-back-into-your-relationship.jpg\" alt=\"Couple Having Romance Together With Candle Night Romantic Decoration\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sometimes when you are struggling in a relationship rut, you need to bring the romance back.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Buy flowers<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plan a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/surprise-your-special-someone\/\">surprise for your partner<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make their favorite meal<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Light candles and dim the lights when you talk<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Go stargazing together<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whatever sounds like it belongs in a romance novel, do it! Romance can be cheesy, sure, but it&rsquo;s these over-the-top heartfelt gestures that will make your partner feel special.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>13. Don&rsquo;t get sidetracked by other people<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&rsquo;s easy to get sidetracked when you&rsquo;re in a struggling relationship but be wary when you begin confiding in someone else.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you&rsquo;re miserable in your relationship struggle, you&rsquo;re more likely to flirt or cheat.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don&rsquo;t develop an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/mental-health\/emotional-attachment\/\">emotional attachment<\/a> to someone outside of your relationship. Instead, turn to your partner to work on your marriage.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>14. Be compassionate<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When your partner is pouring their heart out to you, have compassion for how they are feeling. By showing you can empathize, you make your spouse more likely to confide in you in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>15. Don&rsquo;t force things<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are struggling in a relationship and have tried everything to make things work, don&rsquo;t beat a dead horse. Sometimes it&rsquo;s better to know when things aren&rsquo;t working than to continue to try.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>16. Prayer for struggling relationship<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you and your spouse are looking to fix a troubled relationship and you&rsquo;re both religious, why not turn to your faith?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are Christian, you know that the Bible speaks of a threefold cord. This cord involves you, your spouse, and the Lord. If you bind yourselves together, you&rsquo;ll be stronger.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whatever faith you are, share in prayer as a couple to help<a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/tips-on-how-to-end-a-dead-end-relationship\/\"> end your relationship<\/a> struggle.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>17. Don&rsquo;t take on the burden alone<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are going through a relationship struggle and feel trapped, don&rsquo;t go through it alone. Support and advice from trusted friends and family can make a world of difference.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>18. Learn to forgive each other<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One piece of struggling relationship advice to fix a troubled relationship is to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/forgiveness\/learning-to-forgive\/\">learn forgiveness.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You&rsquo;ve both likely done things in the past that have hurt the other person, but if your partner has displayed positive changes and you want to stay in the relationship, you must learn to forgive them.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>19. Take an online class together<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marriage.com has an excellent online resource called the &ldquo;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/marriage-courses\/save-my-marriage-course\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Save My Marriage Course<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.&rdquo; This course will help couples fix a troubled relationship by helping couples recognize unhealthy behaviors, devise an action plan, restore trust, and improve communication.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>20. Set boundaries and follow them<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is your relationship troubled by overstepping boundaries? Make a lack of respect a deal-breaker in your relationship.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Set boundaries for both you and your spouse to follow regarding trust, privacy, and personal choices, and remove yourself from the relationship if these boundaries aren&rsquo;t respected.<\/span><\/p>\n<pre><strong>Related Reading:<\/strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/marriage-fitness\/types-of-boundaries-in-relationships\/\"><em>6 Types of Boundaries in Relationships &amp; How to Maintain Them<\/em><\/a><\/pre>\n<h3><b>21. Don&rsquo;t resort to insults<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is your relationship troubled by improper communication?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Talking about a problem can quickly degrade into name-calling and arguing. It goes without saying that if you&rsquo;re looking for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/save-your-marriage\/save-my-marriage-by-myself\/\">ways to save a relationship<\/a>, insulting your partner certainly won&rsquo;t make things better.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are in the midst of a relationship struggle and feel things getting heated, walk away and take a breather before you say something you can&rsquo;t take back.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>22. Build emotional intimacy together<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-69926\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/build-emotional-intimacy-together.jpg\" alt=\"Passionate Couple Doing Romance Together at Bedroom\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The best struggling relationship advice you can follow is to work on intimacy with your partner.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emotional intimacy helps you<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1080\/01926180390201936?src=recsys\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">feel connected<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to your spouse and boosts trust.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Boost emotional intimacy and relationship satisfaction by engaging in nonsexual touching, such as holding hands and cuddling. Giving your partner your undivided attention and spending time together will also contribute to emotional intimacy.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>23. Don&rsquo;t forget about physical intimacy, too<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sex is not one of the ways to save a relationship, but it is vital to a healthy marriage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While you should never use sex as a temporary fix for a problem (or to straight-up ignore a problem), it can be used for boosting intimacy and connection.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research shows that the oxytocin released during orgasm<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5052677\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lowers stress<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and promotes bonding.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Studies also show that sexual satisfaction can also contribute to<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/24111536\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">heightened emotional intimacy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and trust, which can help a troubled relationship.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>24. Be honest with each other<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you think, &ldquo;I need help with my relationship,&rdquo; look no further than your own heart.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be honest but respectful with your partner about how you&rsquo;re feeling and what you need from them to fix your relationship struggle.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>25. Make time to talk<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is your relationship troubled? If so, don&rsquo;t forget to talk to each other.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Communication is about coming together to solve problems, but don&rsquo;t forget about the good old-fashioned conversation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the best ways to save a relationship when feeling disconnected is to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/making-time-for-you-and-your-spouse\/\">spend time talking together<\/a>. Turn your phones off and take at least twenty minutes each day to talk, laugh, and connect without interruption.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To know more about the common problems in a relationship, watch this video.<\/span><br><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MdAM1wHELQM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your relationship is troubled, but it doesn&rsquo;t have to stay that way.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Communication, quality time with your spouse, and learning forgiveness are three cornerstones of learning to fix a troubled relationship.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By following these 25 struggling relationship advice tips, you can banish your relationship struggle for good.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":""},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Is your relationship troubled? Being in a struggling relationship is exhausting. You may be arguing more than you&rsquo;re smiling, or you may feel like you&rsquo;re trying to fix a troubled relationship all on your own. If you are overwhelmed by confusion and hurt feelings, don&rsquo;t despair. Every relationship has its ups and downs. It is entirely normal to feel frustrated due to these struggles. The good news is: you can find happiness in your relationship again.&nbsp; 25 ways to save a struggling relationship Here are 25 ways to fix a relationship struggle and find happiness with your partner. 1. Don&rsquo;t <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1419,"featured_media":69920,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[16],"tags":[2679],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69915"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1419"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=69915"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69915\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":72739,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69915\/revisions\/72739"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/69920"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=69915"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=69915"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=69915"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}