10 Warning Signs Your Marriage is Failing (And What to Do About It)

Something feels off.

You can’t quite name it, but your marriage doesn’t feel the way it used to. The warmth is gone. The laughter has faded. You’re going through the motions, but the connection is missing.

You’re wondering: Is my marriage failing? Or is this just a rough patch?

I’m Kathryn Morrow, and as a Gottman-trained marriage coach, I’ve seen hundreds of marriages in crisis. Some couples catch the warning signs early and turn things around. Others ignore them until it’s too late.

The difference? Awareness and action.

Cass and I ignored the warning signs in our marriage for years. By the time we acknowledged them, we were in full-blown crisis—restraining orders, emotional abuse, divorce papers.

We almost became another statistic.

But we didn’t. Because we finally recognized what was happening and took action.

This guide will show you the 10 warning signs that your marriage is in serious trouble—and more importantly, what to do about each one.

Why Most Couples Ignore the Warning Signs

Before we get to the signs, let’s talk about why so many couples miss them.

Reason 1: Denial

It’s easier to pretend everything is fine than to face hard truths. Denial protects you from pain—temporarily.

But denial doesn’t fix problems. It just lets them grow.

Reason 2: Frog in Boiling Water

Your marriage didn’t fall apart overnight. It declined gradually—so gradually that you didn’t notice each small change.

One day you wake up and realize you’re strangers.

Reason 3: Hope Without Action

“We’ll get through this."
"Things will get better when [kids are older / work slows down / stress lessens].”

Hope is good. But hope without action is just wishful thinking.

According to the Gottman Institute, the average couple waits six years from when problems start to when they seek help. By then, resentment has calcified and emotional distance feels insurmountable.

Don’t wait six years.

The 10 Warning Signs Your Marriage is Failing

Here are the red flags. If you recognize more than three, your marriage is in serious trouble.

Warning Sign 1: You’re Constantly Fighting (Or Not Fighting At All)

Two extremes signal trouble:

Option A: Constant Conflict

You fight about everything—money, kids, chores, tone of voice. Every conversation becomes an argument. The tension is exhausting.

Option B: Complete Avoidance

You don’t fight because you don’t talk. You’ve given up. Silence feels safer than conflict.

Why this is dangerous:

Healthy marriages have conflict—but it’s productive conflict. They fight about issues and resolve them.

Unhealthy marriages either fight destructively (criticism, contempt, defensiveness) or avoid conflict entirely (emotional withdrawal).

What to do:

• Learn to fight fair (no name-calling, no bringing up the past, no stonewalling)
• Address issues when they’re small, not after they’ve festered
• If you’re avoiding conflict, start having the hard conversations

Read more: How to Save Your Marriage.

Warning Sign 2: Emotional Intimacy Is Gone

You used to share everything. Now you share nothing.

You don’t talk about your day, your fears, your dreams. Conversations are purely logistical: “Did you pay the electric bill?” “What time is soccer practice?”

Why this is dangerous:

Emotional intimacy is the foundation of marriage. Without it, you’re just business partners.

And when emotional intimacy dies, physical intimacy soon follows.

What to do:

• Ask deeper questions: “What’s been on your mind?” “What are you excited about?”
• Share vulnerably: Tell them your fears, hopes, struggles
• Create time to talk—really talk—without distractions

Read: How to Reconnect with Your Wife.

Warning Sign 3: You’re Living Like Roommates

You coexist. You manage logistics. You co-parent. But you’re not partners.

There’s no affection, no romance, no intimacy. You sleep in the same bed but you might as well be on different planets.

Why this is dangerous:

The “roommate phase” is often a precursor to one partner checking out entirely. They’ve already mentally left—they just haven’t physically left yet.

What to do:

• Reintroduce physical touch (hand-holding, hugs, kisses)
• Schedule weekly date nights (no kids, no distractions)
• Do something fun together (remember when you used to have fun?)

Read: Sexless Marriage: Complete Guide.

Warning Sign 4: One (Or Both) of You Has Checked Out

Signs of emotional checkout:

• They’re not engaged in conversations (distracted, dismissive)
• They make plans without consulting you
• They don’t care about your opinion
• They talk about the future in “I” terms, not “we” terms
• They’re emotionally invested elsewhere (work, hobbies, maybe another person)

Why this is dangerous:

When someone checks out emotionally, the marriage is on life support. They’ve already grieved the relationship while still in it.

What to do:

This is urgent. You can’t “talk” someone back in. You need to:

• Give them space (stop pressuring)
• Work on yourself dramatically
• Show them—through action—that change is possible

Read: My Wife Wants a Divorce But I Don’t.

Warning Sign 5: Contempt Has Entered the Relationship

Contempt looks like:

• Eye-rolling
• Mocking or sarcasm
• Name-calling
• Disgust (verbal or facial)
• Treating your spouse like they’re beneath you

Why this is dangerous:

According to Dr. John Gottman’s research, contempt is the #1 predictor of divorce. It’s relationship poison.

When you view your spouse with contempt, you can’t respect them. And without respect, love dies.

What to do:

• Stop the contemptuous behavior immediately
• Rebuild respect by focusing on their positive qualities
• Get therapy—contempt often signals deeper issues

Warning Sign 6: Trust Has Been Broken

Maybe there was infidelity. Maybe financial betrayal. Maybe lies about small things that eroded trust over time.

Trust is the foundation of marriage. Without it, the relationship is unstable.

Why this is dangerous:

Once trust is broken, every action becomes suspect. Your spouse doubts you. You’re constantly defending yourself. The marriage operates from fear, not love.

What to do:

• Full transparency (open phone, accounts, schedules)
• Consistent honesty—no more lies, even “small” ones
• Therapy or coaching to process the betrayal
• Patience—trust takes time to rebuild

Read: How to Rebuild Trust After Infidelity.

Warning Sign 7: You Feel More Lonely in the Marriage Than Out of It

This is the saddest sign.

You’re married, but you’ve never felt more alone. Being with your spouse feels lonelier than being by yourself.

Why this is dangerous:

When loneliness in marriage exceeds loneliness alone, people start considering divorce. “If I’m going to be lonely anyway, why stay?”

What to do:

• Acknowledge the loneliness (to yourself and your spouse)
• Identify what’s missing (emotional connection? Physical intimacy? Friendship?)
• Take action to address it—don’t just wait for it to magically improve

Warning Sign 8: You’re Fantasizing About Life Without Your Spouse

You imagine what life would be like if you were single. You daydream about dating someone else. You mentally plan your exit.

Why this is dangerous:

Fantasy is the beginning of emotional checkout. Once you start rehearsing life without them, you’re already halfway out the door.

What to do:

• Stop the fantasy spiral (it’s not reality—it’s a highlight reel)
• Refocus on what attracted you to your spouse in the first place
• Ask: “Am I avoiding working on the marriage by escaping into fantasy?”

Warning Sign 9: Your Sex Life Has Died (Or Is on Life Support)

It’s been months—maybe years—since you’ve had sex. Or when you do, it’s obligatory, awkward, or emotionally disconnected.

Why this is dangerous:

A sexless marriage isn’t necessarily a failing marriage, but it’s often a symptom of deeper issues:

• Lack of emotional intimacy
• Loss of respect or attraction
• Unresolved resentment
• One partner has checked out

What to do:

• Address the root cause (it’s not about the sex—it’s about the relationship)
• Rebuild emotional intimacy first
• Reintroduce non-sexual physical touch

Read: How to Fix a Sexless Marriage.

Warning Sign 10: You’re Both Just Surviving, Not Thriving

You’re not happy. Your spouse isn’t happy. But you stay because:

• The kids
• Financial reasons
• Fear of starting over
• Religious beliefs
• Shame of divorce

You’re surviving the marriage, not enjoying it.

Why this is dangerous:

A marriage based on obligation eventually implodes. Either someone leaves, or you both stay miserable for decades.

Your kids don’t need married parents—they need healthy parents. Staying in a toxic marriage “for the kids” often hurts them more than divorce would.

What to do:

• Ask yourself: “Am I staying out of love or fear?”
• Get individual therapy to process your own needs and fears
• Decide: “Am I willing to do the hard work to make this marriage good? Or is it time to let go?”

How Many Signs Did You Recognize?

1-2 signs: Your marriage has some challenges but isn’t in crisis. Address these issues now before they grow.

3-5 signs: Your marriage is in trouble. You need intentional intervention—coaching, therapy, or a serious conversation about change.

6+ signs: Your marriage is in crisis. Without immediate, dramatic change, divorce is likely.

What to Do If Your Marriage Is Failing

Here’s your action plan based on severity:

If You Recognized 1-3 Signs: Take Preventive Action

• Have an honest conversation with your spouse about what you’re noticing
• Read marriage books together (start with “The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work” by John Gottman)
• Implement weekly date nights and daily check-ins
• Consider preventive coaching to strengthen the marriage before it breaks

If You Recognized 4-6 Signs: Get Professional Help Now

• Hire a marriage coach or therapist (don’t wait)
• Each partner should also get individual therapy
• Create a 90-day action plan with specific, measurable goals
• Evaluate progress at 90 days

For Men: The Marriage Reset
For Women: The White Picket Fence Project

If You Recognized 7+ Signs: Emergency Intervention

Your marriage is in crisis. You need:

• Immediate professional help (coaching specialized in crisis situations)
• Individual therapy for both partners
• Possible temporary separation to gain clarity
• Honest conversation about whether both partners are willing to fight for the marriage

If your spouse wants a divorce, read: My Wife Wants a Divorce But I Don’t.

Can a Failing Marriage Be Saved?

Yes—if both partners are willing to do the work.

Cass and I had 9 out of 10 of these warning signs. Our marriage was failing by every metric. We were toxic, disconnected, and destructive.

But we saved it.

Not through wishful thinking. Not through ignoring the problems. Through:

• Radical honesty about what was broken
• Individual therapy and coaching
• Daily, consistent effort to change
• Patience with the process (it took months, not weeks)
• Commitment to becoming better people, not just better spouses

What If Only One Person Wants to Save the Marriage?

This is the hardest scenario—you see the warning signs and want to fix things, but your spouse doesn’t.

You have two options:

1. Work on yourself and hope they follow. Change your part of the dynamic and see if the relationship shifts. (Read: How to Save Your Marriage Alone)

2. Accept that you can’t save it alone. If your spouse is actively destroying the marriage and refuses to engage, you may need to let go for your own well-being.

The Bottom Line

Most marriages don’t end because of one big crisis. They end because couples ignored the warning signs for years.

Don’t be most couples.

If you recognized these signs in your marriage, take action today:

• Have an honest conversation with your spouse
• Get professional help
• Commit to doing the work

Your marriage doesn’t have to fail. But you have to be willing to fight for it.

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Ready to save your marriage?

For Men: Join The Marriage Reset with Cass—a program for men whose marriages are in crisis.

For Women: Join The White Picket Fence Project with Kathryn—for women navigating difficult marriages.

Want more free help? Listen to our podcast: Morrow Marriage | Disrupting Divorce.

Your marriage is failing. But it doesn’t have to end.

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Kathryn Morrow is a Gottman-trained marriage coach who specializes in helping couples recognize and address warning signs before it’s too late. After nearly losing her own marriage, she now teaches others how to save theirs.