Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Share The Commonly Missed Signs Your Significant Other Is Struggling

A young woman sitting on a chair, looking out a window
woman sitting on black chair in front of glass-panel window with white curtains
Photo by Anthony Tran on Unsplash

Reddit user beautyvivahealth asked: 'What's a sign that your partner is actually struggling, that many couple miss?'

It can be easy to tell if your partner or significant other might be going through a hard time.

Coming home to find them crying, or with their head in their hands is a pretty clear sign.


Unfortunately, some people are better at hiding or masking their feelings, leaving their loved ones completely unaware of the pain they might be going through.

Or, worse still, the help and support they might need.

Redditor beautyvivahealth was curious to learn of the more subtle and less obvious signs that people's partners might be struggling, leading them to ask:

"What's a sign that your partner is actually struggling, that many couple miss?"

When Common Comfort No Longer Brings Joy

"Something fairly common is if they stop doing things they used to enjoy or become very quiet."

"Many couples miss this, thinking it's just because they're busy or tired, not realizing it could mean something more serious."- OwnPea3066

It's The Little Things

"Hyper fixation on something rather small, like a small activity or small inconvenience, and then no interest or opinions on bigger, more significant things."

"Also generally not looking after themselves as well as they used - general hygiene and wearing the same clothes day after day."-Itsbudd

Cleanliness Is A Virtue

"When they stop their normal hygiene routine."

"Hair goes unwashed, no shaving, lack of deodorant, wearing the same unwashed clothes day after day."

"Not doing the hobbies they once enjoyed."- CasualRampagingBear

Say That Again?

"A shift in their usual communication style."- Suitable-Patience690

When Words Become Too Much

"When they talk in emojis."- OPTC-

Everyone Has Feelings

"I’ve been really sensitive lately, and as a man with a strong-willed, sometimes feisty woman, that can lead to a lot of fighting."

"I’ve been struggling with mental health for years and it got a lot better as soon as me and her got together."

"But recently I’ve been in a bad way again, and the mental stress caused me to lose my patience."

"After a really bad fight she could tell I was being different and overly sensitive."

"It’s a big tell."

"I broke down in the car next to her last night, and it opened both of our eyes a lot."

"We’re good now."- HighlandHero74

When Everything Is Just Too Much

"Constant irritability and lack of energy."- BabyK_128

Slow And Steady Change, And Not For The Better

"Weight gain, especially big weight gain, bad diet of junk food (easy dopamine), no motivation to do much of anything, more addicted to their phones (easy dopamine), apathetic about almost everything, but also heightened anxiety, bad hygiene practices - for example your girlfriend who has long hair she wears out straight or curled or styled nicely up is suddenly barely brushing her hair and is wearing it in a thrown up bun every day."

"It sounds small, but someone who takes care of themselves suddenly not taking care of themselves in that way is something to watch out for."- MaleficentAd8942

Broken Connections

"Emotionally detached."- Emotional_Fondant_55

Not Even A Simple Yes Or No

"When they can't make any decisions, it can be as small as figuring out what they want for dinner."

"They look lost and dazed."

"Also forgetfulness, these can point to dissociation."- hollsq

Mood Swings

"If they can go from happy to irritate, lashing out to crying and from independent to needy quickly, there's something wrong in term of their moods."

"Yes, it easy to just passed it off as a 'moody', but there usually other factors that cause it."

"Another is refusing to speak their minds but post passive-aggressive messages/posts on their social medias."

"This is usually the first step into the 'Cold War phrase of the relationship- usually lead to it demise too'."- throwsomwthingaway

Before You Rush To Pass Judgement...

"Frequently I see people on here describing their significant other as no longer holding up their end of household chores, sleeping all the time, not taking care of themselves, and being called 'lazy'.”

"Oftentimes the poster is overwhelmed by all the things they need to take care of now and completely miss that it appears that their significant other is really struggling with mental health and depression."

"Sitting down and saying 'I notice you haven’t been yourself lately, do you want to talk, can I help?' from a caring place is so much more productive than freaking out and yelling at someone about how you now have to pick up all the pieces."

"I wish more people understood this and made their spouse’s health a priority instead of judging, blaming and name calling."-lokeilou

Overcompensating

"They start doing things to make you happy out of nowhere."

"They go out of their way to bring you a gift, do your chores, snuggle and touch, make you your favorite meal."

"And this becomes consistent behavior over a very short period of time."

"When that type of affection comes on strong and seemingly out of nowhere, it can be cause for concern."

"Especially if it stops suddenly."

"That person is turning their unhappiness into your happiness."

"Maybe if you're happy enough, they'll be happy again."

"The constant touch is reassuring and calming."

"If it stops suddenly, it's very likely that some kind of decision has been made - and it's rarely a good one."- IllustriousPickle657

When They Need A Little Too Much "Self-Time".

"I tend to push everything away from me."

"My husband, friends, family, hobbies, and career."

"It’s like trying to find total isolation without raising an alarm."- aippom

Distance Doesn't Always Make The Heart Grow Fonder

"They don't communicate to you like they usually do or they tend to be emotionally distant."- Entire_Sympathy_1701

It's never a good or helpful idea to assume the worst.

But next time you have an inclination that your loved one might need help, probably best to give it to them, and not waste time by asking.

More from Trending

Mark Kelly; Elon Musk
Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images; Kevin Lamarque - Pool/Getty Images

Dem Senator Fires Back At Elon Musk After Musk Called Him 'A Traitor' For Visiting Ukraine

After billionaire Elon Musk called Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly "a traitor" for visiting Ukraine amid the country's ongoing war with Russia, Kelly perfectly shamed him for the attack.

Kelly, a former U.S. Navy combat pilot and astronaut, made his third visit to Ukraine since 2023, where he visited a military hospital and met with Red Cross staff. During his visit, he spoke with wounded service members and spent time with pilots who have flown combat missions defending against Russian air attacks.

Keep ReadingShow less
Patrick Brazeau, Don Jr.
Patrick Brazeau/Facebook, Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Canadian Senator Challenges Don Jr. To A Boxing Match—And We're Grabbing The Popcorn

Canadian Senator Patrick Brazeau said he is 100% serious about putting his dukes up to face off against Donald Trump Jr. in a boxing match.

Brazeau's challenge to go into the ring with Republican President Donald Trump's eldest son is in the spirit of charity, and to settle tariff war tensions between the U.S. and Canada.

Keep ReadingShow less
Lauren Boebert; Al Green
Andrea Renault/Star Max/GC Images; Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for Congressional Black Caucus Foundation

Boebert Slammed After Making Racist 'Pimp Cane' Comment About Dem Rep.

Colorado Republican Representative Lauren Boebert was criticized after claiming during an interview with the far-right television network Real America's Voice that Texas Democratic Representative Al Green shook his "pimp cane" at President Donald Trump during Trump's address to a joint session of Congress last week.

During Trump’s speech on Tuesday, March 4, Green stood and passionately denounced potential Republican cuts to Medicaid, dramatically pointing his cane at the president. When asked to sit, the 77-year-old lawmaker refused and was ultimately escorted out of the chamber.

Keep ReadingShow less
J.D. Vance; screenshot of J.D. Vance greeted by protesters
Brandon Bell/Getty Images; CNN

JD Vance Claims Pro-Ukraine Protesters 'Shouted' At His 3-Year-Old—But Video Shows Otherwise

Vice President J.D. Vance was criticized after he claimed in a post on X that a group of "Slava Ukraini" protesters shouted at him while he was out for a walk with his 3-year-old daughter, only for the backlash to intensify when video taken by the protesters seemed to contradict his story.

Though Vance described the dialogue as a mostly respectful conversation, his post betrayed his anger at something that didn't happen at all.

Keep ReadingShow less
Teacher at the front of the classroom
Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash

Teachers Describe The One Student They'll Never Forget

While underpaid and challenging, teaching can be one of the most deeply rewarding professions in the world, not just because of the opportunity to teach others what we know, but because of what we might be able to teach them that extends beyond the classroom.

What many teachers often don't share about their journeys through the profession are those students who leave behind a particularly special mark. Until today.

Keep ReadingShow less