There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to figuring out whether you should break up with a partner or not.
But if you’re going through some of the signs on this list and feel unsure about your future together, these are good reasons to consider ending things:
12 Signs You Should Break Up
1 You don’t have fun anymore
This is not always a sure sign that you should break up.
Having fun does not always mean that things are going well, but if you and your partner are spending more time apart from each other than together due to a lack of positive interactions, it means something has shifted in your dynamic, and it probably won’t get better by itself.
2 You feel trapped or controlled by your partner
Are you always walking on eggshells around your partner?
If this is the case, you have to ask yourself if it’s worth it for you to stay with them.
If you feel like your partner is trying to control every aspect of your life, from what you wear to who you spend time with, it’s a sign they don’t respect your independence.
The fact that someone feels like they can control and manipulate somebody else even in small ways should be a red flag that there are larger issues at play.
It’s not normal behavior in a healthy relationship.
If this type of behavior has been going on since the beginning of your relationship or has gotten worse over time, it might be time to break up with them before things get worse.
The longer you stay with someone who makes you feel like this, the more unhappy and miserable you’ll become.
3 You don’t feel like yourself around them anymore
If your relationship makes you feel like a different person than the one who entered into it, something might be wrong, especially if this change isn’t positive.
Do you feel like you don’t know who you are anymore?
Have your values, lifestyle, personality, and tastes been tampered with, and you are not happy with the change?
You should never lose yourself in the name of a relationship.
4 You are constantly fighting
If there’s one thing that every couple can relate to when it comes to their relationship status, it’s the fact that fights are inevitable.
But if constant arguments are a regular occurrence in your relationship, it might be time to consider whether it’s worth saving.
If your arguments become more frequent and intense without resolution, if they go on for hours at a time, if they leave both of you feeling drained instead of relieved, those are all signs that it’s time to move on.
5 Your partner is emotionally distant
If your partner has become detached from you emotionally and no longer shares their thoughts and feelings with you as frequently as they used to, this could be a sign that they’re just not that into you anymore.
When people fall out of love with their partners, they often start closing themselves off from their partners.
6 You are not on the same page
One of you wants more from the relationship than the other person does.
One of you is ready to settle down, and the other isn’t ready to commit.
Maybe one of you wants kids, but the other doesn’t.
One of you wants more from life than the other person does.
This might be because one person has big plans for their career or education, but their partner doesn’t share those ambitions, or the other doesn’t have any big plans.
Either way, it can cause tension in a relationship if there is a big difference between what each person wants from life.
If you both want different things, it’s not going to work out.
A relationship requires both people to be on the same page.
7 The relationship is toxic
Your partner makes you feel bad about yourself.
They constantly put you down and make you feel less than amazing.
Your partner doesn’t respect your boundaries or limits, physical or otherwise.
They keep trying to do certain things that make you uncomfortable.
They don’t care about what makes you happy, comfortable, and safe.
They are jealous and possessive.
They don’t communicate with you about problems in the relationship.
This isn’t healthy.
If you’re in an emotionally or physically abusive relationship, break free and learn how to protect yourself from further harm.
If you feel your partner isn’t willing to work on their issues or make an effort toward improving the relationship, it may be time for a breakup.
A good relationship will make both people feel good about themselves while also encouraging them to grow as individuals.
Oftentimes, the signs might point to you and fish you out as the toxic one.
Our partners are not always the problem.
If you are toxic, do your partner and the relationship a good one by working on yourself.
The equation for an emotionally healthy relationship is simple: two people who trust each other, feel safe with each other, and can depend on each other for emotional support.
8 You both often talk about a breakup
If ending things has been coming up a lot in conversations, it might be time to actually break up.
Some signs, such as talking about breaking up, are pretty clear-cut.
In that case, you both don’t really want to be in the relationship anymore, and there’s no point in trying to save something that’s dying.
9 You no longer trust each other
This is a big one.
A lack of trust can destroy any relationship and make it hard to move forward together as a couple.
Trust is one of the most important aspects of any relationship because, without it, there’s no foundation for love or anything else meaningful between two people.
Trust is built by doing things together and spending time getting to know each other better over time.
It doesn’t happen overnight.
Oftentimes, trust is broken by infidelity.
If your partner has cheated on you, it might be time to end the relationship.
Even if you’re tempted to stay together after a breakup because of habit or because they seem like good friends, don’t do that.
You will only be doing them and yourself a disservice by staying together when there are problems between the two of you.
10 Your partner always has to be right
Being in a relationship is a lot like being in a dance.
Sometimes, you are leading, and sometimes you’re following.
Other times, you both take turns doing the same thing.
The problem is when one person is always leading, and the other is always following.
This creates an imbalance in the partnership and can lead to problems down the road.
When one person is always right, and the other person is always wrong, it’s time for the dance to end.
11. Efforts have become one-sided
It takes two to tango.
For a relationship to work, all hands must be on deck.
If you are the only one doing everything to keep your relationship going, you should break up because you’ll be frustrated in the end.
Lack of effort signals a lack of interest.
12. Your partner is not supporting your dreams
Your partner should be your biggest cheerleader, but if your partner isn’t cheering you on in pursuing your life goals, you are definitely in the wrong relationship and should get out.
You are not in a relationship just to say sweet things to each other.
You have dreams to pursue, and your partner should encourage you.
If you’ve been in a relationship for a while, you are used to being around this person, used to their quirks and habits, and you’ve learned to love them for who they are.
But when things start to go wrong, and you begin to see that person as someone else entirely, someone who doesn’t respect you or make you happy, it’s time to rethink things.
Sometimes, you may know your relationship is over even before it begins.
But if you’re considering ending a relationship that’s been going on for some time, there are some signs that can help you decide whether it’s time to break up.
By taking a look at these signs, you can figure out whether you should stay with your partner or break up.
Remember that if and when you do decide to part ways, it’s important not to rush into anything.
Take some time for yourself first, evaluate the situation and how it makes you feel, then make an informed decision based on what seems right for everyone involved.
