5 signs you and your partner are becoming total strangers

You’ve probably heard the term “7-year itch,” which refers to the point where couples stop feeling as happy as they used to in a marriage.

However, according to divorce stats, this “danger zone” actually happens somewhere between 5 and 8 years. One of the big reasons is the slow but steady growing apart of partners that is largely influenced by being in a rut and a lack of effort.

We looked deeper into what makes couples lose touch with each other and determined 7 red flags that you and your partner shouldn’t ignore.

Here’s a list of them below:

1. You are often surprised by your partner, but not in a good way
You find everything that your partner says or does out of character for them. There’s such a strong lack of communication that you’ve even stopped keeping in touch with each other. The thing is, we never stop growing or changing, so if you’re out of touch with their opinions or tastes, this should be a sign.

At least once a week, ask them how they’re doing, what was something that surprised them in the last few days, or what made an impression on them. Also, try watching at least one movie together during the week and discussing what you’ve seen.

2. You never fight anymore
It’s a myth that happy couples never fight. Fights arise from emotional distress — if you don’t like something your partner has done, you want to let them know in order to stop the same issue from repeating in the future. So when you stop having those difficult conversations, this can lead to exhaustion, frustration, and a lack of attachment that might manifest itself in a very ugly way at the end.

Pay attention to how you feel about what your partner does and don’t ignore it. If you’re upset, let them know.

3. You can’t name a single colleague your partner hates or gets along with
We spend most of our waking hours at work, so it’s practically impossible to not bring some of its frustrations home with us. Happy couples do a “weather check” on daily things — think about how much your partner shares about their workplace? How much can you recall? If the answer is an awkward silence, you might have communication issues.

Don’t just ask them how their workday went, notice what they say about upcoming meetings, and ask specific questions. Your partner will notice that you’re interested and you won’t have to have boring abstract conversations.

4. You’re not excited to share good news with them
Imagine that you got incredible news, who’s the first person you want to call or text? If your first or second choices aren’t your partner, this means you’ve already significantly grown apart.

Think about the root of the problem. Did you stop sharing news with your partner because of their reaction or just a general lack of communication? Either way, you need to attempt to rebuild that connection by checking in with them every once in a while.

5. Your silences are no longer comfortable
Remember the times when just being around them, doing nothing, was enough? Ideally, this feeling should never stop, couples should be comfortable around each other even if they’re busy doing separate things.

Start slowly by doing one thing a week together, it can be playing board games, watching TV or a movie, or even cooking together. Do something you can talk about when those silences hit.