Given Aimee and Carolyn’s experience with hundreds of happy and unhappy couples, I welcomed their professional insight. One thing's for sure reaching the decision to end a relationship is a process. “The decision to leave a relationship can take months (or even years) to process,” explained Aimee, the marital therapist. “There’s usually an inner process of dealing with guilt, sadness, disloyalty, obligation, fear and relief. Amid these emotions is, of course, dealing with your partner on a day-to-day basis. It's not easy.

Knowing the emotional devastation that a breakup can wreak, we created the following list of questions that every person should ask when debating whether to end a long-term relationship

1. Is our sex life satisfying

Sex is a very important component of a relationship. Especially in times of emotional tension, sex brings things back to the physical, providing an opportunity to alleviate tension and forge deeper intimacy between partners.

While there is no objective standard for the “right” amount of sex, the most important factor is that both partners feel satisfied with the type and frequency of their sexual encounters. A low-sex partnership may be perfectly healthy, but only if neither partner wants more.

2. Are we still laughing

Relationships require work, but they should also have a healthy balance of joy, fun, connection and even silliness. “Even in the best relationships, couples will get on one another’s nerves, explained marital therapist Aimee. An ability to laugh and make light of the situation can be tremendously powerful.

So ask these further questions Is your relationship is overwhelmingly dramatic and tiring Does your time together devolve into crying fights Do small misunderstandings lead to big blowups If the majority of your interactions are negative, it may be a bad sign.

3. Do we resolve conflict in a healthy manner

While too much fighting is unhealthy, a lack of conflict may also be a bad sign. “If each partner is too polite and tiptoeing around the other, there is a lack of communication and a repression of honest emotion, said Carolyn, the matrimonial attorney.

Instead, resolve to fight fair. Focus on the resolution of the underlying issue (including, when necessary, an agreement to disagree) in a manner that leaves both parties feeling respected. Second-guess any relationship where you and your partner either do not conflict whatsoever, or cannot agree on fundamental rules for engagement.

4. Are we each other’s #1 priority

Consider the following example Effie and Matt have been dating for five years. Effie is tied to her family and their opinion. She runs home every time she and Matt fight. She asks her mother and sister’s opinion on every small and large detail of her and Matt’s life together, from what they should eat for dinner to when they should have children.

Each partner's loyalty to one another should take precedence over all others, including their family of origin. One's separation from his or her parents is an essential barometer of that person's maturity and ability to renegotiate priorities based on different developmental scenarios.

5. Do we have a common vision about our future

Another example for this one Deidre is one of seven children and always dreamed of having a large and boisterous clan of her own. Although Gary was raised in a large family, he enjoys his quiet and orderly life. When they fell in love, Gary steamrollered ahead with their relationship. Now married, Gary is feeling pressured into a life he doesn’t want; Deidre feels cheated out of a future she had discussed openly.

If someone tells you something about themselves, my advice is to listen and take it to heart,” said divorce lawyer Carolyn. After all, it's impossible to change your partner, or anyone else but yourself, for that matter.

Be honest with yourself. Does your partner want a long-term, monogamous relationship Do they want kids Are their long-terms goals in sync with yours

For each of these questions above, take an honest appraisal of the relationship for what it is, not what you want it to be.

BDST: 1649 HRS, MAY 04, 2015
Edited by:  Sharmina Islam, Lifestyle Editor