SPOT IF A PARTNER IS LOSING INTEREST

Some break-ups are slow burners, others come from out of nowhere. Emma explains how to tell if things are turning sour

Having a sneaking suspicion your partner is no longer into you feels awful, so many of us try to ignore it, or blame other factors, like debt, career worries, big life problems or confidence issues. There are some signs that demonstrate your partner is losing interest, however. If they constantly snap at you, or get frustrated with everything you do, so you find yourself walking on eggshells, you need to talk, because this type of hostility affects your self-worth. Being in a loving relationship means truly listening to your partner, so if you’re finding that your partner doesn’t pay attention to what you do or say, they may not be invested in your partnership. Another sign is the depth of your conversations, if they tend to stay on superficial topics, like the weather, rather than discussing the different aspects of life with a bit of depth, it can be a sign that they are beginning to distance themselves from you. More obvious signs include seeming disinterested in you in general, failing to “notice” or compliment you, and a lack of sexual desire. If you appear to come last in their list of priorities, rather than first, you need to confront the situation. The only way to discover whether or not your fears are genuine is to ask them what is wrong. You may feel terrified of their answer, but you will know what you are facing, as opposed to fearing what might be going on. Take a deep breath, find the right moment and say the words “We need to talk”, because that really is the only way forward.