Is Your Relationship In Trouble If You’re Feeling Ignored By Your Partner?

A healthy relationship involves ongoing relations with the person you care about, including communication, spending time together, building emotional connection, and working things out as a team. Feeling neglected may signal that your relationship has taken a turn, and you may wonder how to move past this obstacle. When you're not talking or spending as much time as you used to with your partner, it can be natural to feel neglected. If you’re feeling neglected in your relationship, you may be wondering if the relationship is worth saving. In this article we’ll explore what it could mean for your relationship if you’re feeling ignored by your partner. 

Can the relationship be saved?

Emotional neglect can feel hurtful, and you may feel as if the relationship is doomed to come to an end. Understanding if a relationship is worth saving can depend on the feelings of both partners. When you identify with feeling neglected or ignored and raise the concern with your partner, see if they’re willing to listen to you to understand why. If they care about you and want things to work out, it’s likely they’ll be ready to make changes to help you feel better. When you express that your needs are not being met, a loving partner will usually want to work out a solution with you to ensure a healthy relationship.

If one partner is suddenly showing a pattern of unavailability or changing their behavior, it doesn’t necessarily indicate that the relationship is in danger. Life gets busy, and one or both people may be focused on meeting obligations outside of the relationship, not realizing they are hurting their partner in the process. Open communication can be vital in these instances so that both people are on the same page. If one partner doesn't seem interested in improving things or making changes, it could signal that it is time to part ways. After all, it takes effort from all parties to make a relationship thrive. Remember your expectations for the relationship and the standards you've set for yourself when determining if the relationship is worth saving.

What to do when feeling ignored by your partner

Do you feel neglected by your partner, or does it seem like things happen coincidently, making it difficult to get time in with your partner? Maybe you notice the time spent together has been reduced to a minimum lately. Your partner seems distracted by other things, such as work, family, or hobbies. Perhaps you feel like your partner's friends are getting more time in with them than you. The dynamics of your relationship have changed, and you may wonder what this could mean moving forward. If you feel neglected in a relationship, consider taking the time to step back and look at your situation to see what could have led to this feeling. Assessing your relationship may determine possible solutions to reestablish the connection you desire.

When you feel lonely due to neglect from your partner, assess how things have been between you and your partner lately as a starting point. Think about how long you've felt ignored and what actions or events could have contributed to your feelings. Maybe you feel ignored, but your partner has been so busy they don't realize it. Perhaps an emotional disconnect occurred that made the situation more complicated. Here are some tips to help you get past the situation:

Evaluate your actions and be honest about them

The first step to understanding the problem can be acknowledging your feelings. Once you have identified that you're not happy about the situation, try to assess your emotions and be honest. Are they related to the current status of the relationship, or is something else going on in your life that's a contributing factor to your emotions? Sometimes people are quick to blame their partner when they may not have anything to do with it. Maybe your expectations for the relationship are not met, and you feel neglected as a result. There is nothing wrong with wanting the best for yourself, but it can be crucial to ensure the expectations you’ve set for your partner are realistic. When too much pressure is placed on your partner to meet your needs, it can negatively affect the relationship. 

Confront your partner and tell the truth about how you feel

Talk to your partner about how you feel to start to improve the relationship. Be honest when communicating your feelings. It can be vital not to assume that your partner knows what you’re thinking; they are not a mind reader, after all. You may feel let down or wonder why something hasn't happened if you think your partner knows how you feel. When you want things to change, it can be important to communicate what is going on so both parties understand. Tell your partner about your needs but try to remain positive so they can respond in the same tone. Be calm when talking to your partner and be mindful of the tone of your voice. Healthy partners can have difficult discussions without fighting. 

Avoid jumping to conclusions

Sometimes we let our assumptions get the best of us, whether there is evidence to prove it or not. People may get stressed out over something they think is true and later learn otherwise. Before accusing your partner or blaming them for something, consider how you may have contributed to the problem. In many cases, both people have some part in the issue at hand. Think about your behavior, attitude, and actions. Have you done something that upset your partner or made them feel uncomfortable or unimportant? Make sure you have a clear picture of the reality of the situation before coming to conclusions. Try to assume the best of your partner until proven otherwise. 

Focus your mindset on a solution

Be clear about what you want to happen. Having a solution in mind can speak volumes about how you want to improve your relationship. Be honest as you communicate your expectations. Instead of focusing on how you feel ignored, think about being appreciated and what that looks like. Think about the actions that may be required from both partners and consider how to do things differently so that both sides benefit. Each partner often needs to compromise in some way instead of leaving it up to one person in the relationship to change. Effort from both sides can help make a difference in the relationship.

Consider the feelings of your partner

An open conversation can help you get some perspective about how your partner feels. Listen to them and take time to consider their thoughts and feelings before responding. You may learn something new or find out about an issue you weren’t aware of. Perhaps your partner is going through something right now, or maybe they just need time. Stepping into your partner’s shoes can help you practice more empathy and patience as you work together to find solutions. 

Get outside support to manage with your feelings

It is okay to talk to someone outside your relationship about your emotions, such as a relationship coach. It may be necessary if dealing with other concerns such as depression, anxiety, or other external elements that could affect a relationship. Talking about your feelings may help put your situation into perspective. Talk about how things were in the beginning and when you noticed a change. Do you think other factors are affecting the relationship? Both partners may benefit from support from family, friends, or a relationship counselor.

While getting to the bottom of why you feel ignored is important, factors that affect your self-esteem and how you feel about your partner also play a role in determining how to move forward. Sometimes feeling ignored is due to the unhealthy behaviors of a partner. If your partner is overly critical, putting you down constantly, or is hurtful on purpose, it may signal the relationship is in trouble. Seeking guidance and support from people you trust may help turn things around or assist with ending the relationship.

Can the relationship be saved?

Understanding if a relationship is worth saving depends on the feelings of both partners. When you identify with feeling neglected or ignored and raise the concern with your partner, they should be willing to listen to you to understand why. If they care about you and want things to work out, they should be ready to make changes. When you express how your needs are not being met, they should want to work out a solution with you to ensure a healthy relationship.

Sometimes a partner may notice a pattern in the availability of the other or notice their behavior is different than usual. Maybe they are focused on meeting obligations outside of the relationship and not realizing they are hurting their partner. A partner may acknowledge their role in creating such feelings but expect a team effort to improve your relations. If a partner doesn't seem interested in making things better, it could signal it is time to part ways.

People enter a relationship because they want a partner. There are unique things about a person that stands out, contributing to why you want to be with them. Sometimes things happen that get a partner upset or catches them off guard leaving them feeling uncomfortable. A partner should be willing to acknowledge when they were wrong and want to make things right again. Remember your expectations for the relationship and the standards you've set for yourself when determining if the relationship is worth saving.

Takeaway

While you genuinely care about your partner, and you're hurting simultaneously, it is vital to maintain your emotional well-being. Sometimes partners get caught up in meeting the needs of their significant other and lose their sense of independence. Stay focused on achieving your personal goals. Stay productive with things that make you happy. Step back and look at where you are in life. You deserve to be cared for with love, respect, and positivity. These elements should always be in place when you're not receiving them from anyone else.

A healthy relationship involves both partners giving and receiving. You should not feel lonely, neglected, or left out on purpose. When these feelings occur, speak up and let your partner know you are hurting. A relationship could be in trouble if a partner isn't willing to make changes to benefit both sides, they purposely do things to cause emotional pain, or their actions create further distance between you. Understanding why the problem exists is a step in the right direction to work toward a viable solution to ensure the happiness of both partners. You may even require the assistance of a relationship coach to help you figure out what the right direction is.