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

James Comer; Joe Biden
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images; Bruce Glikas/WireImage/Getty Images

GOP Rep. Leading Biden Autopen Probe Caught Using Digital Signature On Investigation Documents

Back in June, MAGA Republican President Donald Trump ordered an investigation into Democratic President Joe Biden’s actions as President.

Trump, whose fragile ego has never recovered from getting trounced by Biden in 2020, made unsubstantiated claims about Biden aides running the government due to Biden’s alleged "cognitive decline."

Keep ReadingShow less
Author and activist Amanda Knox attends the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books to promote her book, “Free,” at the University of Southern California.
Amanda Edwards/Getty Images

Amanda Knox Claps Back

Author and activist Amanda Knox delivered a powerful response to an internet troll who tried to shame her on an X post about her past sexual relationships, which she was forced to reveal during a wrongful interrogation after being accused of the 2007 murder of Meredith Kercher.

In a series of X posts, Knox reflected on how she was labeled a “deviant sex monster” and how that shame continued to affect her even after she and her then-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito were found not guilty in 2011.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @courtneyboyle32's TikTok videos
@courtneyboyle32/TikTok

Bride Who Met P!nk In Her Hair And Makeup Suite In Viral Video Explains What Happened

Imagine waking up on one of the happiest days of your life, ready to marry the love of your life, and you don't even know that you're going to meet the singer and songwriter P!nk that day, too.

That might be one of the most original experiences on the Bridal Bingo Card, and TikToker Courtney Boyle might be the first bride to be able to check that box.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Rosie O'Donnell
@rosie/TikTok

Rosie Calls Out 'Tangerine Mussolini' For Threatening To Revoke Her Citizenship In Epic 10 Minute TikTok

Just days after criticizing President Donald Trump in a viral Instagram post, actor and comedian Rosie O'Donnell fired back at him in a TikTok video over his "absurd" threats to strip her of her U.S. citizenship after she moved to Dublin, Ireland.

O'Donnell and Trump have feuded for years and O'Donnell, fearing the worst once Trump won the election, moved to Ireland shortly before he was inaugurated. She has cited the risks Project 2025 and Trump's potential retribution pose to her and her nonbinary child.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Leland Vittert and Bill O'Reilly
News Nation

A Confused Bill O'Reilly Gets Fact-Checked Live On-Air After Claiming Epstein Trial Was Under Biden

Former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly was quickly fact-checked after he claimed that the trial of the late financier, pedophile, and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein happened under former Attorney General Merrick Garland during the Biden administration.

O'Reilly made the claim while appearing on News Nation, repeating President Donald Trump's talking points that Democrats bear responsibility for not releasing the infamous "Epstein files," which are said to contain detailed lists of some of Epstein's most high-profile enablers.

Keep ReadingShow less