Breakdown in communication is one of the most common causes of divorce in marriage. In order for any relationship, especially a marriage, to be successful effective communication is necessary.

A marriage where communication is suffering is very much like being a visitor to country where you don't speak the language. There may a lot of talking going on, but you don't understand most of the words. Let's look at one of the major communication issues many married couples have.

Most of us have tried to have conversations with people who never shut up. They talk and talk, and when you try to add something to the conversation, they cut you off before you barely get your mouth open.

Your level of frustration with this type of person can vary, depending on whether you feel the issue being discussed is important or not. For many married couples, this is what takes place when they try to have discussions with their spouse.

Are you guilty of talking and not listening? Do you allow your spouse to express their thoughts and feelings? Many times the reason your spouse, won't share thoughts and feelings with you, is the opportunity to talk is never there.

A spouse who is never able to express their thoughts, or contribute ideas, soon learns to just quit trying to talk. The definition of communication is "the exchange of thoughts, messages or information."

If you or your spouse are guilty of talking but not listening, you are giving without getting. That is not an exchange. This is guaranteed to cause resentment and create further marriage problems.

Built up resentment, is like a poison to your marriage relationship and is just one of the many reasons why breakdown in communication can destroy a marriage.

In a relationship as important as marriage, one sided conversations, are never a good thing. What often happens, is the spouse who never gets a chance to contribute, eventually becomes frustrated to the point that they explode with anger over something minor. This usually leaves the other partner totally confused, because the anger is out of proportion to the issue at hand. As I said, built up resentment is poison.

Learning to listen as well as talk will definitely take effort on your part, and probably a good deal of practice. A healthy marriage with good communication is one where both partners are able to freely share thoughts and feelings.

That does not mean that you will always agree, because you won't. It means that you each will learn to listen to the others point of view and be able to resolve your issues in a way that is mutually agreeable.

Breakdown in communication is just one of the marriage problem signs that if not dealt with can lead to the marriage falling apart.