Let’s be real: no relationship is perfect, and we can all vouch for this in our lives. Every couple argues, gets on each other’s nerves, and has off days. But sometimes, things evolve in a way that goes deeper than little disagreements. That’s when relationships cease feeling fulfilling and start to feel draining. Here are a few of the biggest ways relationships can suck — and what to do about them. 1. Communication Turns Into a Battlefield When every conversation ends in defensiveness, sarcasm, or raised voices, the relationship starts to feel more like a war zone than a partnership.  It’s not just about what’s said — it’s how it’s said. If both sides stop listening, resentment takes the wheel and drives the relationship off a cliff.  Maybe Pat Benatar was onto something when she said that love is a battlefield.  Fix: Slow down and take a deep breath. Choose your words with care, and watch your tone. Listen more than you speak. And if you can’t talk withou...

When you think about the person you wish to spend the rest of your life (assuming you have yet to find him or her), which qualities come to mind? Chances are, you want this individual to be kind, loving, smart, funny, loyal, honest, communicative, responsible, hard-working, and the like. But these desirable attributes don't mean didly squat if the partner in question expresses no interest in being with you long-term -- assuming that, too, is what you yearn for with them.  Maybe you've been with someone for four years who hasn't so much as broached the topic of marriage. Or, perhaps you ask them what they picture their life being like in a few years and they fire off a slew of items on their To Do List -- traveling, meeting new people, launching a business -- that seem to have little or nothing to do with you. Being with someone who fears commitment -- the kind I've termed commitmentphobes -- can be emotionally draining. You just never quite know whether th...