Relationships aren't always sunshine and rainbows. And it's a sad fact of life that many of them are short-lived. But there are times where you might feel that your relationship is hanging by a thread - and don't quite have the courage to end it.

Well, it turns out, there are actually four clear indicators that your romance has reached the end of the road.

A relationship guru recently shared her expertise with her followers as she revealed the four signs your romance may be on the rocks.

Alex Scot is known on TikTok for sharing advice on pretty much all aspects of relationships. In her viral clip, she cites the "Four Horsemen" theory, coined by The Gottman Institute, which are four clear signs that a relationship is doomed.

Here are the four signs your romance is on the rocks:

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Alex explains in detail what exactly the four horsemen are - and how you can watch out for them.

She tells her followers: "The first and worst of the four horsemen is contempt. Contempt is when you talk down to your partner as if you are superior and they are less than."

As an example of the first horseman, she adds: "Saying something like, 'I learned how to tell the time when I was five, when are you ever gonna learn?'"

According to Alex, the second horseman is defensiveness. She goes on to explain that if your partner mentions something about their relationship that they're not happy with and you respond defensively instead of trying to listen and take their issues onboard - your relationship likely won't last.

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The third is "stonewalling", which is basically another term for the "silent treatment". It goes without saying that deliberately choosing not to engage with your partner is deadly for any relationship.

The final horseman is criticism - but there are two different types of criticism, she says.

You can criticize a particular situation or event, but if you're criticizing everything about your partner, it's not good news for the pair of you.

Well, there you have it - the four major red flags of any relationship! Share some of your own relationship red flags with us in the comments!

Featured image credit: Pexels / Vera Arsic

Relationship expert warns of the four signs your romance is on the rocks