When it’s over: How to spot the warning signs

So, your relationship has changed and not for the better.

Sorry, Charlie, you’re about to get dumped.

If you take heed to the warning signs, especially these offered by the good people at Your Tango, you can make the most of the end of your relationship.

Since you and your mate are about to break up, why not talk your other half into doing that sex thing you’ve always been afraid to ask him or her to do. This might even save your relationship, because one of the signs of the end of your relationship is:

Breakup Warning Sign #4: The level of physical intimacy has dropped to an all-time low

When your partner takes “physical distancing” to the next level, you will notice that the loving physical contact (cuddling, massages, foreplay, etc.) has almost disappeared completely. I firmly believe that the level of intimacy in your relationship says a lot about the strength of your romantic connection. Loving physical contact is one of the most powerful ways of connecting with someone and when it starts to vanish from a relationship, it acts like a crack in the ceiling that allows the rain to start coming through.

I’d also like to point out that it’s quite normal for your bedroom routine to vary over time due to numerous factors, but if you find that your man has stopped making advances altogether, this is usually a sign that there is something seriously wrong in the relationship. It’s even worse when he resists of all of your advances, as well.

Shying away from physical contact is a tactic frequently used by women to maintain a level of power in the relationship. But when men do this, it’s usually because they are losing interest or have someone else on the side.

But when you notice the signs of a break up, is it best to heed them and end the relationship or do you fight for your love?

I say, cut your losses and move on. Bonnie Raitt said it best, I can’t make you love me.

This article appears in Nov 17-23, 2009.