How do you know if your marriage is having problems and is in need of help? Relationships are tricky, especially because they are not stagnant - that is they change over time. In every relationship, especially a marriage, there will be moments of conflict and tension and times when you just don't agree with each other.

Just because there are issues you don't agree on, you don't have to necessarily start thinking there are problems in your marriage. However, continual tension that is unresolved could be a warning sign of marriage problems, now or in the future.

A relationship is a journey, and like any journey, there are signs along the way. If you are travelling in a car, you pay attention to warning signs about speed limits, steep inclines and roadwork on the roads ahead. If you are smart, you will learn to recognise the warning signs and take appropriate action like slowing down, to prevent having a car accident.

In the same way, if you take notice of some of the warning signs that your marriage could be heading for problems, you will be able to get help and save your marriage, before you head for real disaster, or reach "the point of no return" to a happy marriage.

Every relationship is different, so if you recognise any of the warning signs given below, in any way, shape or form, you may be experiencing marital problems that should be resolved.

Good communication and an easy, open atmosphere where you feel free to discuss any issues together with your spouse are signs of a healthy marriage. However, if over time, your communication has deteriorated and you no longer talk to your spouse about the issues close to your heart, you are on the road to marriage problems.

Some couples find that they get into habits of easy communication about day to day things and are very polite to each other, but they don't ever find time to talk about any important issues. This is often especially true when children come along, as the couple starts communicating through their children and conversations between them tend to involve the children.

You may know what your spouse likes to eat or do in a day, but if you can't remember the last time you spoke about their goals, dreams or aspirations in life, you could consider this a warning sign. Also, if you communicate more to your friends about how you feel, rather than to your spouse, your marriage could be having some problems.

Every relationship will have times where showing physical affection is more common and other times where it is not as needed by both partners. This cycle is natural and shouldn't cause too much worry, unless it continues for a long time.

Physical affection is not only about making love, but is also about a gentle touch on the shoulder as you walk past, a quick hug goodbye or a cuddle when you are feeling down. If you are missing these signs of physical affection, your marriage could be in trouble, especially if this has been missing from your relationship for a long time.

Relationships always take time. You may be busy with the children, or having a hard time at work, but if you do not take time to invest in your marriage relationship, eventually you will find yourself looking across the table at dinner at the stranger who used to be your spouse.

Spending quality time together does not necessarily mean living in each other's pockets every minute of the day with no relief, but spending time with your loved one. Quality time is not just watching television together either. Going for a walk together, going out to a nice restaurant for dinner (without the kids) or just getting an ice cream together as a treat, can be spending quality time with your spouse.

If you haven't got one-on-one time together with your spouse, you are not investing anything into your ongoing relationship and you will definitely be heading towards marital problems. How can you expect communication to happen if you don't spend time together?

Another warning sign that things are not going well in your marriage is when one spouse or both start to have secrets from each other. Finance is one area where couples often have secrets. "I won't tell my husband how much that new coat really cost me - I'll tell him I got on sale."

Secrets could be about how you spend money, how you spend your time (with other people) and what you do during a day. Every secret you have from your spouse starts to head the relationship closer to the steep descent of marital problems.

Like on the road, warning signs are there for a reason. If you do not pay attention to them, you can be heading for disaster. If you recognise any of the above warning signs in your marriage relationship, get help or do something about it NOW!

If you are not sure what to do next I highly recommend getting a copy of Save My Marriage Today by Amy Waterman. It's a fantastic book that gives really practical advice and insights on saving marriages and relationships.