Part of being married is making it through the down times, but are you able to see if there are serious problems? Sometimes something seems like a big deal to one person but it may not be a problem to the other one. So you should take a look and understand if there really is an issue.

Communication. One of the keys to a good marriage is communication. It therefore stands to reason, that a sign that a marriage is failing is when there is a communication breakdown. Ask yourself these questions: Do You and Your Spouse Avoid Speaking To Each Other? Are You Living Separate Lives? Does Every Conversation End Up In A Fight? If you have answered yes to even one of these questions then you need to find a good way to begin communicating positively again. For each couple the steps can be different, but you need to begin to rededicate time and energy to your relationship.

Sexual indifference when the sex prior to this was good may be an indication of an underlying problem. Medical issues can cause this but that can be cleared up by a visit to a doctor. There may be a power issue or lack of communication contributing to this lack of sex. If so, it's important to begin to try to get back together physically because the physical aspect is important to the marriage.

Control issues are not good for relationships as it makes the balance out of whack. This can make one person feel inferior to the other, which causes fear and resentment to arise. There are times when this is going to happen but it shouldn't be ongoing.

Affairs. Many people think that affairs are sexual in nature; however most parties seek out the affection of another in the form of sex to feel closeness and love, and not actually for the sexual relationship. This is just the only way they can find the closeness that they long for. Healing after an affair is possible; however, it can be a while before trust is regained in the relationship. If the trust doesn't return over time, then the marriage can not be saved.