Marriage is meant to last forever; unfortunately, in many cases, it doesn’t.
People experience challenging situations in their marriages, varying from individual to individual and from one situation to another.
Before a marriage ends, some signs would have been seen that indicate that that marriage is headed for the rocks.
If you have been experiencing some difficult times in your marriage and it persists, either because you do not know the way out or you or your partner are unwilling to put in the work, you may begin to feel tired of the marriage.
If you have been the only one putting in the work in your marriage, it is also very likely that you’d feel tired and may eventually give up on it.
How do you know that this has begun to happen?
The signs are not exhaustive, but when you see any of these signs, there is a high chance that your marriage is about to bite the dust because you have given up on it
12 Signs You Have Given Up On Your Marriage
1. You think independently
One of the signs that is most indicative of the fact that you have given up on your marriage is that you no longer consider your partner when you think about stuff and make plans.
Before now, you probably held a united front in your marriage, and whenever you thought about something, you always considered your partner.
But now things have changed.
You do not make plans with your partner in mind.
You now prioritize your personal choices, interests, and hobbies.
Your energy is now invested in your individual quests and not shared activities with your spouse.
2. You are indifferent
Indifference is a classic sign that you have given up on your marriage.
When you find yourself showing a lack of interest in anything that concerns your marriage or spouse, it indicates that you have given up on your marriage.
You no longer show care and concern about the state of things or events that occur because you are not interested in making things work anymore.
You are not in the least concerned about your partner’s well-being and you keep your distance.
3. You no longer put in the work
Lack of effort is a major sign that shows that you have given up on your marriage.
You stop making efforts and just relax on the things that you would ordinarily do.
You are unwilling to initiate conversations, fulfill your responsibilities or participate in activities that strengthen the union.
You are just over it all and would rather invest your energy in other things.
You may even go as far as becoming an escapist, avoiding dealing with issues and resolving challenges.
4. Your partner can’t hurt you
You can only hurt a person that cares.
You can tell that you truly do not care anymore and you have given up on your marriage when nothing your partner does hurts you.
You have detached yourself from them emotionally and you have become so distant that their actions do not affect you.
When your partner’s actions no longer hurt you when they should, you know you are over it for real.
5. You don’t make sacrifices
Marriage is full of compromises and sacrifices.
Both parties must always be willing to meet each other halfway for things to work.
If you have stopped making sacrifices and compromising, it may mean that you have given up on the marriage and are unwilling to work through the issues in it.
6. No physical intimacy
Your interest in spending time with your partner and getting intimate with them declines and you just couldn’t be bothered if they came close to you or not.
You may even intentionally begin to avoid them and spend time away from them.
Hugging, kissing, and making love with your partner goes down your priority list and you do not desire to connect with them intimately anymore.
This is a sign that you have given up on your marriage.
Worse still, you may even begin to seek emotional and physical intimacy with other people.
7. You are disrespectful
When you value your marriage and do not want it crumbling down, you are careful with your words and actions.
You try to communicate gracefully with your spouse even when there are issues.
So when you begin to speak and act in disregarding and disrespectful ways to your partner, you know that a change has happened.
You constantly begin to disregard their boundaries and needs and ignore their feelings.
8. Lack of support
If you have stopped providing all forms of support for your partner, it can be a sign that you have given up on your marriage.
Even through challenging moments, you are no longer their safe place or a listening ear.
You cease the emotional support and friendship you used to offer them and just let them do life alone.
This is a sign that you have given up on your marriage.
9. Unfixable conflicts
Conflicts are normal in marriages but a proof of the health of the marriage is the willingness of both parties to resolve them.
When you and your partner begin to engage in constant conflicts and frequent arguments, something is wrong.
But when you begin to show unwillingness to solve the issues or find a common ground, it’s worse because it can mean you have given up and no longer care.
10. No plans for the future with them
The absence of future plans with your spouse can be a clear sign that you have given up on your marriage.
You stop making plans for the future with them in mind and you do not discuss your plans with them either.
You make your long-term plans independently from them.
This display of a lack of interest in building a shared future together is a sign that you have given up on your marriage.
11. Resentment and criticism
Harbouring deep-seated anger and bitterness towards your spouse can be a sign that you have given up on your marriage and do not believe that it can work anymore.
A long-term feeling of resentment towards your spouse and feeling a persistent need to constantly criticize or belittle them is a bad sign.
All you can see are the negative sides of your marriage and spouse and no positives.
12. Poor communication
Communication is crucial for any relationship to work.
When communication leaves, many other positive things leave as well.
If your desire to communicate with your partner goes down, and you no longer initiate or respond to conversations with them, it is a sign that you have given up on the marriage.
Tough times are not unusual in marriages.
It is the willingness of both parties to make things work that determines the outcome of the challenge.
Conclusion
The signs above can indicate that you have given up on your marriage but it does not automatically mean your marriage has to end.
With proper communication, willingness from both of you, and professional help, your marriage can work again.