Communication can make or break a relationship, but how do you make sure that you get it right?
Being honest about your feelings and talking through any issues with your partner is the number one rule to follow, but it goes beyond that.
Failing to truly express yourself and ensure you both understand and are understood by your S.O. can cause some serious problems.
Here are 6 things that can happen when there’s poor communication.
1. You argue all the time, often for no reason at all
When there’s a lack of communication in a relationship, it’s easy to become frustrated with each other. You expect them to read your mind and when they fail at doing so, you direct your anger at them. Understandably, this can irritate your partner, who goes a step further and argues back. Without clear communication and understanding, it will be hard to get things back on track.
2. You use silent treatment
The silent treatment isn’t always a bad thing, but it can be if it’s used frequently as a manipulative tactic. Often, the silent treatment will follow after an argument and it can drag on for days if neither person wants to apologize. Frequent silent treatments aren’t going to help or save the relationship. In fact, they only serve to further drive you apart.
4. You hide things from them
Maybe you feel like it’s easier to hide things from your partner than making yourself vulnerable and saying what’s on your mind, but hiding things from them is the same as lying to them. Sometimes uncomfortable conversations are needed to move in a relationship. If you’re not prepared to be honest then it’s going to be hard to save it.
5. You start to become selfish
When there’s ongoing conflict and lack of communication, it’s likely that you start to focus only on your own needs. Maybe you can’t see things from your partner’s point of view because you’re too stubborn. Or, maybe you don’t want to take any blame for the issues in your relationship. Either way, if you want to work on your relationship, you need to see things from their point of view. Start asking them questions and open up a healthy, honest dialogue with them.
6. You start to ignore each other’s needs
The major problem occurs when you stop communicating in all forms. Your partner needs to know that their feelings and thoughts are important to you just as much as yours are to them. There has to be an equal balance. If you’re not communicating then you simply won’t know how to progress in your relationship. That could signal the end.
7. There will be frequent misunderstandings
Poor communication always leads to misunderstandings in a relationship. It’s hard to know what someone else is thinking all of the time. Even if you think you know your partner very well, there could be something that you’re missing. You could be frequently misinterpreting their actions simply because you’re not being open with each other. The problem with misunderstandings is that they often lead to further arguments.
