10 Things That Happen To Your Relationship When You Don’t Communicate

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 10 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. Often, this becomes an endless cycle that can be hard to break out of. Without clear communication and understanding, it will be hard to get things back on track.
2. You use the 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.
3. 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.
4. 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. This could be what brings you closer together!
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. You start to resent them. When there’s a lack of communication, it’s easier to assume that your partner doesn’t care about your needs. Perhaps you feel like they should know how you’re feeling at all times. Maybe you’re annoyed because they don’t always take the time to ask. Equally, by not expressing yourself, you’re pushing your partner out. They could be feeling neglected. In short, the relationship continues to suffer because you aren’t being honest with each other. And the more you start to resent each other the more it signals the end.
8. You use your words to hurt them. Conflict always happens in a relationship with poor communication. When you start to get angry at them, you might lash out and say things that you know will hurt them. Even if you immediately regret using the words, the damage is already done. This is a huge red flag and indicates the relationship has become toxic and unhealthy. Unless you can resolve the conflict, it’s best to walk away.
9. You start to distance yourselves from each other. The more you feel misunderstood by your partner, the more you will distance from them both emotionally and physically. It’s hard to connect with each other if you’re not being open and honest. Often, it’s easier to avoid each other than it is to face up to the problems in your relationship. A good, direct conversation is needed in order to fix the issues between you.
10. You question your future together. Sooner or later, you’ll question whether you should stay together. A relationship with poor communication isn’t a happy one. It can be hard to resolve the issues when they’ve been going on for a long period of time. And the only way to move past the problems in the relationship is to admit to them and make an effort to work on them. You’ll have to let yourself be vulnerable!