The 6 Biggest Relationship Issues and How to Solve Them

Relationship Issues Key Takeaways:

• • It’s perfectly standard to argue in a relationship 

• • How arguments are resolved is the real key to a relationship’s health

• • A lack of respect, sex, and trust can all lead to problems

• • Poor communication leads to many challenges that couples could otherwise avoid

• • Even the most egregious relationship issues are solvable

• • Placing blame during an argument triggers defensive actions and typically furthers an argument

• • Couples therapy effectively tackles several relationship issues while simultaneously gaining support and clarity

Humans aren’t perfect, and our existence is fraught with challenges. It only makes sense that our relationships will face the occasional hurdle. The real test is what happens after the disagreements. 

How you cope with problems says a lot about the health of your relationship, and how you deal with relationship issues depends on what it is and how it developed. Some are more problematic than others and can require professional help, while others clear up with an apology. 

The difficulty begins with identifying the root problems and knowing where the answers lie. Certain relationship issues cause problems in almost every relationship. This article discusses six of the most detrimental relationship issues and the most successful ways to fix them. 

Common Relationship Issues & Challenges

The most common reason relationships fail is a plain old lack of commitment. A weak resolve will never be enough to hold any relationship together, even a simple friendship, but a firm commitment is difficult to disassemble.

Some other typical relationship issues include:

Loss of Trust

Trust is one of the foundational emotions of every relationship. It allows partners to feel more open and generous with their emotions.

People who trust each other are more apt to forgive, look over shortcomings, and believe in each other’s strengths and abilities. Trust breeds fertile ground for relationships to strengthen and grow. 

A relationship without trust is on shaky ground. There is no room to grow because each partner is consumed with trust issues, such as infidelity, abuse, or theft. Several actions might cause a lack of trust, including:

• • Lying

• • Jealousy

• • Possessiveness

• • Control issues

• • Infidelity

A lack of trust isn’t hopeless; however, several effective techniques exist to regain it.  

Inadequate Communication Skills

Your relationship has a big problem if your conversations are purely transactional. Only speaking about the household chores and other responsibilities is a sure sign of impending doom. Healthy communication consists of various subjects from both partners’ points of view. 

Not speaking just to avoid an argument is counterproductive. There are safe and healthy ways to argue that help put an end to the conflict instead of shoving it under the rug.

Sometimes communication problems stem from a lack of skill. Many people don’t know how to communicate their thoughts effectively and instead push them down into their gut, where they then present as anxiety, worries, and trust issues. 

Learning to communicate is the first step to solving this issue. Being honest and open also helps strengthen communication.

Priority Differences

Two people with wildly different priorities in life can find it challenging to maintain a serious, long-lasting relationship. The relationship goals may be diverse, but it may also be that their life goals are too disparate ever to work. 

People often have different relationship ideas and goals and don’t realize it. One person may think a month-long relationship is still in its infancy, whereas another may see it as burgeoning on serious. 

Long-term future goals can also pose a priority problem. One person may want to move to a warmer climate or a less-congested location, while the other plans to keep working in the city for another ten years. 

Differentiating priorities isn’t always a prelude to disaster. There’s always a chance you can work together to find a similar outcome. Research indicates that long-term partners affect each other’s goals only under certain circumstances. There may be no compromise if both partners feel strongly.

Financial Issues

Couples can handle money in such different ways that it causes catastrophic problems in their relationship. It can also cause a big problem if they don’t know how to handle financial discussions properly.  

Some people are savers, and some are spenders. Determine your traits and tendencies before attempting any conversations about haywire finances.

More than half of American couples enter marriage in debt. Basic budgeting skills and an understanding of the dangers of credit go a long way in keeping financial fights at bay.

Lack of Respect

 How you speak to your partner, friends, family, and even coworkers can seem disrespectful. This means more to some people than others but can cause serious issues in the right situation.

Speaking kindly to people you love, or even those you merely intermingle with, can help maintain feelings of respect in the relationship. Consider how you treat people in conversations and arguments. Ensure that your comments are positive, helpful, and honest. 

Eye rolling, glib comments, contempt, and mocking are also signs of disrespect. Repairing the relationship can be challenging after these vile actions appear. Respect issues typically stem from deep-seated problems in the relationship and come from a place of arrogance and superiority. 

Little or No Intimacy

Intimacy is a coziness or a feeling of closeness with someone else. The hormone oxytocin – also known as the love hormone – has much to do with that. The human body releases oxytocin when we touch and show affection for one another.

Sex is also an essential part of a relationship. It has benefits beyond being pleasurable – it also has advantages for physical, emotional, and psychological health. Couples that don’t touch, have sex, or spend much time together lose their feelings of intimacy, and the relationship deteriorates as a result. 

Identifying relationship issues is a critical step, but it’s just the first one. The next one can be even harder – fixing them.