Whenever the going is good in a relationship, the feeling is usually divine and out of this world.
You usually don’t want such moments to end.
But just like there are ‘ups,’ there are also ‘downs’ in every relationship.
It’s inevitable.
What makes the difference is how well you handle the rough times.
It might interest you to know that ‘rough times’ in this context don’t refer to only the occasional arguments, fights, and fallouts between partners.
It could be worse — things that’ll make you see an extreme and different side of your partner.
Such things can make you question the bond you share, down to the very foundation of your relationship.
If care is not taken and when not handled properly, it can cause the end of a relationship.
You won’t be wrong to refer to them as dealbreakers.
In this article, we’ll refer to them as the worst things that can happen in a relationship.
Take a moment to ask yourself the worst things that can happen in a relationship — your relationship.
I mean, the things that can cause irreparable damage to your relationship or change its trajectory.
Let’s take a look at some of the common ones.
6 Worst Things That Can Happen In A Relationship
1. Cheating
The first thing on this list of the worst things that can happen in a relationship is cheating.
It doesn’t matter if it is physical or emotional cheating.
If you take an opinion poll of dealbreakers in relationships, you best trust that cheating will be among the top five.
Many people are averse, either consciously or subconsciously, to the idea of having to share their partner with someone else, and rightly so.
It really hurts so much to realize that the one person who was all over you, professing their undying love to you, promising never to hurt you, and to never look at another person till you agreed to be in a relationship with them, is actually going after another person.
Scratch that.
They’ve already gone down that road with someone else.
Do you know the worst part?
They were still with you at the same time, stringing you along and constantly telling you lies about their whereabouts and other things that don’t add up whenever they’re with the other person.
This is just a sneak peek into what physical cheating looks like.
Don’t get me started on emotional cheating.
In that situation, your partner has emotionally checked out of your relationship and has become emotionally involved with another person.
Meanwhile, they become emotionally unavailable to you, and when you complain about the change in attitude, nothing will change.
They’ll come up with myriads of excuses to cover up for their latest behavior.
Well, anything but the truth.
Picture any of the scenarios above.
Even if you’ve never experienced it, you’ll agree with me that it’s a terrible place to be.
Indeed, it’s appropriate to be called one of the worst things that can happen in a relationship.
2. Abuse
Abuse is the second thing on this list of worst things that can happen in a relationship.
Here, we’re referring to all types of abuse — physical, emotional, financial, and mental abuse.
None is less than the other; as such, none should be treated as more urgent or lighter than the other.
Physical abuse refers to inflicting physical harm on another person just because you can.
It doesn’t matter if they did anything wrong.
The abuser just enjoys watching the recipient go through physical pain at their hands.
What hurts more is when the abuser is the supposed partner of the recipient.
Someone who promised them heaven and earth and professed all the love in the world to them has suddenly turned around to bring them unimaginable pain and suffering.
What a pity!
In the other types of abuse, the game plan is to frustrate and subdue the recipient till they are helpless and hopeless.
The abuser strips the recipient of their self-worth piece by piece without needing to lay a finger on them till there’s nothing left.
They mess up their mental health, sanity, and self-esteem so badly.
By the time they’re done, the recipient is at their mercy to do their bidding and dance to whatever tune they dictate.
3. Lies and deception
Lies go hand in hand with deception, as we’ve seen in point 1 above.
Just like cheating, lies break the trust your partner has for you.
It leads them on with unreal things, such as deception.
For some people, it is one of the worst things that can happen in a relationship.
Once you break their trust, they’ll see no need to entrust their heart to your care any longer.
Your loved ones, especially people who you are in a relationship with, need to know that you will guard, love, protect, and cherish their hearts with everything when it’s with you.
4. Trying to change who your partner is
Whether you are actively trying to change who your partner is or you’re just hanging around them and hoping that they’ll change, it is not a fair thing to ask for.
No one is perfect, and that is the more reason you should go for and be with someone who you can tolerate and handle their imperfections.
Bad habits can be worked on, and your partner may be willing to put in the work to be a better person.
But what’s unacceptable is you trying so hard to remodel them into the picture of an ideal or perfect partner you have in your head.
Either that or you are just hanging around them and hoping that they’ll succumb to your pressure and change into who you want them to be.
None of these options is fair to anyone, and if you ask me, it’s one of the worst things that can happen in a relationship for some people.
It simply shows that you’ve been living a lie and leading your partner on all because you have a deceptive goal in mind.
What then happens if they don’t turn out as you envisage?
Will you break up with them?
There you have it.
Not only did you deceive them for a period of time, but you also ended up putting them through a needless and unavoidable heartbreak.
5. Toxic communication patterns
Having a toxic communication pattern can be one of the worst things that can happen in a relationship for some people.
Yes.
Some people actually take the quote, ‘healthy, efficient and effective communication is key to the success of every relationship,’ very seriously.
They believe in communicating about everything, as it should be.
For such people, they don’t want to have anything to do with toxic communication patterns.
And by toxic communication patterns, I’m referring to communication that lacks kindness and mutual respect.
Overall, it’s important to have a good communication pattern with your partner.
Learn how to be honest, kind, respectful, and open-minded whenever you’re communicating with your partner.
In the absence of a good communication pattern, your relationship is definitely headed for the rocks.
6. Lack of boundaries
Sadly, the lack of boundaries made it to this list of worst things that can happen in a relationship.
Many people are aware of boundaries but refuse to believe that boundaries exist, even in relationships.
They believe that being in a relationship with someone automatically makes them immune to that person’s boundaries.
That way, they tend to do whatever they want, even if it is clearly not what their partner likes or is comfortable with.
And that’s when trouble sets in.
People like to have their space, no matter how little, even while in a relationship.
You need to know that despite being an important part of someone’s life, there should be some boundaries in certain areas of your life.
Even your partner must have pointed it out to you, but you have chosen to lose your individuality just because you’re in a relationship.
However, your decision doesn’t cover your partner.
That you refuse to set boundaries with your partner does not mean that they’ll also make you immune to theirs.
This clash of interests is one of the worst things that can happen in a relationship.
There’s nothing healthy about this habit, and you need to dump it like hot coals ASAP.