When a relationship feels off, it’s not always obvious, because some people don’t yell and they don’t slam doors. They just get quiet, and there are quite a few signs that this is happening. Here are thirteen quiet behaviors of a person who is miserable in their relationship. Have you ever caught yourself doing any of these?
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock.
They Only Talk About Logistics
Rather than having actual conversations, they just say things like “Hey, did you pay the gas bill?” and “Don’t forget to take the dog out.” Someone who has nothing to say except reminders and schedule updates isn’t simply multitasking. They’re saying things to keep the wheels turning, which means the fun stuff mostly disappears. It’s all checklists now.
They Mute Their Own Laughter
As soon as they start laughing, they dial it back, like they caught themselves being too happy. It’s not so much a quieter laugh as it is a muted one, almost as though they’re trying not to disturb the weird energy sitting between them and their partner. They’ll laugh out loud with friends or during a show, but once their partner’s in the room, it becomes shorter. Almost nervous.
They Always Rewatch Shows
It’s the fifth time they’ve rewatched The Office, although it’s not because they love it that much. Choosing something new involves starting a discussion, maybe even negotiating, but it’s far easier to throw on a show they’ve already seen. This way, they can tune out without getting into anything, with no opinions needed. Knowing what’s coming means they don’t have to engage.
They Keep Their Phone Face Down
While some people might think a partner who always keeps their phone face down is hiding something, that’s not always true. Sometimes it’s because they don’t want to be bothered by anything. Even if no one says anything about it, it becomes routine to keep it down during dinner and TV time. They simply don’t want to have to share one more thing.
They Take Longer Routes On Purpose
A quick trip to the store somehow takes an hour now, but not because of traffic. They wanted some peace and quiet with a random podcast, meaning that stretching errands becomes the new form of self-care. The road home suddenly isn’t so direct. They make detours for gas they don’t really need or drive around an extra block to sit with their own thoughts.
They Answer With “I Don’t Know” More
What do you want to eat? What movie sounds good? “I dunno” is the only answer you ever receive, though this is more than simple indecision. They’ve checked out. Decision-making requires energy, and if the relationship doesn’t feel worth it, they’re not gonna waste it trying to plan anything. It probably won’t feel good anyway.
They Clean at Odd Hours
At 2 AM, they’re wiping down the fridge shelves. It’s because they’re trying to keep their mind (and hands) busy when everything feels too still. Nighttime becomes a good time to move around since there’s no conversation or partner asking what’s wrong. The mess isn’t important, but rather, not wanting to sit with everything that’s not being said is what matters.
They Avoid Making Eye Contact
As you walk past each other, they look just slightly to the left, almost like making eye contact would accidentally open the door to a real conversation. They’re not ready for that. So, they look at the floor and may fidget with their hands or pretend to check something on their phone. Any eye contact feels like way too much.
They Sit in the Car Before Going Inside
The engine’s off and the keys are in their hand, but they’re still not getting out. Instead, they sit there. This tiny pause before walking inside says way more than anything they’ll say once they’re actually in the house. That moment gives them a few extra minutes of peace before stepping back into whatever they’re avoiding, which is probably their relationship.
They Wait For Their Partner To Fall Asleep
They start stretching their nighttime routine, such as taking twenty minutes to brush their teeth or having a shower for much longer than usual. Anything to avoid getting into bed at the same time as their partner. They want to avoid lying next to them because things feel off, and no one wants to say it. Once they hear them snoring, that’s the green light.
They Stop Giving Information About Their Day
There’s no more “guess what happened at work” or “I saw the weirdest thing on the train.” Instead, it’s “fine” or “same old” whenever you ask them, with no effort to fill in the blanks. Of course, they still live life, but they’ve stopped sharing it. You could sit next to them all night and still have no clue how their day was unless you start prying.
They Stop Bringing Their Partner Up in Conversations
Whenever they’re out with friends or chatting with coworkers, it’s almost as if their partner barely exists. There are no “we” moments and no comments that “my girlfriend said…” It’s not on purpose, though, it just stops happening. The relationship becomes a separate thing that doesn’t naturally come up anymore, even when it would’ve before.
They Don’t Bother Fixing Small Misunderstandings
Something’s clearly been misunderstood, like a text being taken the wrong way, but they don’t clear it up. They simply let it hang. Why? Because correcting it feels like more effort than it’s worth, and even simple stuff, like explaining why they were late or defending a joke, seems pointless.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us on MSN.