We all know most people have a fear of long-distance relationships, and it's for a good reason too. It's hard work! It requires a lot of patience and commitment, not something that everyone has. But if you truly love each other, there's nothing that can stop you! To give you an idea of what you can expect, here are 10 signs to look out for to see if your long-distance relationship is faltering, and 10 ways you can keep things strong.

1. Lack of Excitement to Communicate

When it comes to long-distance relationships, good communication is everything. If you and your partner don't feel the same excitement about your daily conversations as you used to, that's a bad sign. You should be enjoying the little moments in the day when you get to hear about what's going on in each other's lives. So if even that starts feeling like a chore, it's clear that your relationship is suffering and something needs to be worked out.

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2. Persistent Doubts

Being far away from your partner can feel stressful in a number of ways. But the moment you start doubting whether things are going to work out, that's when things can take a turn for the worst. Long-distance relationships require a strong mind and a strong commitment if you want things to work. Having persistent doubts is step one in breaking those down, peeling away at the emotional connection necessary for the relationship to survive.

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3. Increased Conflicts

Your daily talks with your long-distance partner should always be filled with positive discussion, not negative ones! If you start noticing your conversations being overloaded with small disagreements that lead to big arguments, something's wrong. Conflict happening on a regular occurrence is dangerous for any relationship, especially long-distance ones where communication is everything.

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4. Emotional Disengagement

For a long-distance relationship to be successful, both parties need to be willing to be open about their thoughts and feelings at all times. If one of you starts emotionally withdrawing, it might be a sign that needs aren't being met. Closing off from your long-distance partner is just grounds for fear and worry to take place.

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5. Reluctance to Spend Time Together

Setting aside time so you can have virtual dates together or even plan visits is of the utmost importance. It shows that you're both still invested in the relationship and want to spend time together. The moment one of you starts demonstrating that time together is no longer a priority, it clearly means the relationship is losing its bond. 

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6. Interest in Other People

Long-distance relationships are built on trust, so things will look incredibly suspicious if your partner keeps mentioning new friends or seems overly interested in other people's company. If they're not giving you the same time of day, it could feel like they're seeking emotional or physical intimacy elsewhere.

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7. No Compromising

In a way, being in a long-distance relationship requires you to be even more flexible and be more open to compromise than in your standard relationship. Because when it comes to important matters like future plans, it's a bad sign if both parties aren't able to find common ground. It might just mean you both don't share the same goals anymore, which is something that can easily end any relationship.

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8. Less Supportive

No matter where you and your partner are in the world, relationships thrive when you both feel supported. It doesn't matter what it is - it can be about personal goals, career advancements, or new hobbies, feeling support from your partner means the world. And in a situation where you're far away from one another, voicing that support is incredibly vital. So the moment you feel that disappear, it's clear something in your relationship isn't working.

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9. Stagnation

We're all looking to grow in this world, whether that be personally, in your career, or in your relationship. When a relationship feels stagnant and has no room for growth or development, it might be something you want to check out. Both partners should always be evolving together and improving each other's life, not holding it back.

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10. Secrecy or Lies

Dishonesty or being secretive is a major red flag in any relationship. It doesn't matter if you're long-distance or not - it's not something to pass on lightly. Trust is arguably one of the most important facets of a long-distance relationship, so if you break it, don't expect things to turn out well. There's no universe where a relationship built on lies is healthy.

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1. Regular Communication

Keep your long-distance relationship alive by keeping your partner involved in your life as much as possible. It's all about good, consistent communication! You can use various forms like texting, calling, or video chats. Giving them regular updates about your day-to-day life is a wonderful way to keep that closeness despite the physical distance. 

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2. Plan Visits

It may be difficult to find the time or money, but doing your best to plan visits and set aside time for each other is so important in a long-distance relationship. It helps make your partner feel seen and wanted, and that anticipation of the next meeting is a good way to keep the excitement alive. There should always be a "planned next" to look forward to!

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3. Shared Experiences

Just because you're apart doesn't mean you can't find ways to spend time together! Whether it's watching a movie online, playing a game, or reading the same book, finding ways to connect is a great way to create topics of conversation and build a strong bond while you're away from each other.

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4. Keep Trust Alive

Do everything you can to maintain an open and honest relationship by having good communication. As we all know, trust is the foundation to any healthy relationship - long-distance ones included of course! It might be hard at first, but do your best to be transparent about any feelings, concerns, or fears that will only help strengthen the bond and bring you both closer together.

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5. Celebrate Important Dates

Just because your partner might be halfway across the world isn't an excuse to skip important dates like birthdays, anniversaries, or significant milestones! Always make the effort! It can be as simple as sending a considerate gift, a handwritten letter, or arranging a cute online date to make the day a bit more special. 

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6. Supportive of Each Other

Your partner is just one phone call away at all times, so it doesn't mean you get to slack off! Being the best girlfriend or boyfriend means showing them your support at all times. Not only does it demonstrate that you have an interest in your partner's life, it shows that you care about them and their success. It's a simple way to grow together as a couple.

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7. Future Planning

It's a good idea to set some time to properly discuss what you both want in the future. After all, all relationships are supposed to head somewhere! It's all about discussing what your guys' end goals are. Where will you both live in the future? What about marriage? Savings? It's all up for healthy discussion.

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8. Personal Growth

One interesting aspect of long-distance relationships is that it gives you a lot of room for personal growth. With all that time apart, don't just dawdle around doing nothing! Look for new ways to improve yourself so that the next time you two meet, you can show them a better version of yourself. 

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9. Surprise Elements

Show your partner you care by keeping the relationship fresh and exciting despite all the distance between you two. There are plenty of ways you can surprise each other, it just takes a bit more effort. Send them unexpected gifts, letters, or hold fun virtual dates! It's an adorable way to keep things alive.

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10. Couples Therapy

Never forget that couples therapy or relationship coaching is always a good option to consider if you're starting to face some ongoing problems. There's no shame at all in therapy - it just means you care about your relationship and you want to learn ways to keep things going. There are plenty of challenges when it comes to long-distance relationships, so finding new ways to navigate them (especially from a professional) can only be beneficial.

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