Sometimes relationships end for a good reason. People grow apart, and both parties are happier on their own, or with other people.
But sometimes, relationships end because one or both partners made an avoidable, but incredibly destructive mistake.
Psychological literature is rife with examples of behaviors that can hurt a romantic relationship. We rounded up seven of the most common.
Don't get paranoid. If you recognize one or more of these patterns in your relationship, you can now take steps to remedy the problem instead of staying mired in conflict.
Read on and learn how to stop a breakup in its tracks.
SEE ALSO: 15 relationship facts everybody should know before getting married
Distancing yourself from your partner
Recent research found there's a deadly combination of characteristics that predict relationship dissatisfaction: sensitivity to rejection and the tendency to cut your partner off emotionally.
People who are really worried about getting hurt might distance themselves from their partners, which ends up making the relationship less satisfying in the long run. In other words, they effectively create what they fear.
If this sounds like you, try telling your partner about your fears. You might be surprised to learn that they share some of those concerns, and you can work through them together.
Hiding your finances
Nearly two in five Americans in one poll said they've lied to their partner about money (financial infidelity), which can lead to fights, distrust, and in some cases divorce.
The problem is that money isn't just about numbers— it can symbolize power and love. So insecurity about what your partner's doing with his or her money means insecurity about the relationship in general.
Before you decide to combine (or even partially combine) finances with your partner, it helps to have a conversation about budgeting and your financial histories, and to come up with guidelines for making big individual purchases.
Forming a 'fantasy bond'
Psychologist Robert Firestone coined the term "fantasy bond," which describes the illusion of connection with your partner.
You replace genuine feelings of love and passion with the idea of being a couple, or a unit. Emotional closeness is often replaced by adherence to routines.
The real danger, according to Firestone's daughter, the psychologist Lisa Firestone, is that you start to lose your individuality in your attempt to find safety in the relationship.
If you feel like you've entered into a fantasy bond, Robert Firestone says it helps to explore your fears of individuation and separation from your partner and work toward developing a more honest communication style.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider