Sometimes relationships hit a rough patch. In order to be successful, they need attention and care.

When relationships suffer and feel broken, it doesn’t mean the end.

Here are 10 tips to fix a relationship.

Tip #1: Figure out why your relationship is broken.
Take a few minutes to figure out how the relationship became broken in the first place, wrote eHow.com. About.com added that diagnosing the problem allows you to troubleshoot, accept responsibility, and eventually fix it.

Tip #2: Communicate.
Face the situation, sort it out and clear the air. If you avoid confrontation, you can’t understand or help each other, said LovePanky.com. Squidoo.com added that when you argue with your partner, resolve it and move on from there.

Tip #3: Accept responsibility.
About.com wrote that in order to fix a relationship, you must first look at how you've contributed to the problem, as well as accept responsibility for your actions.

eHow.com said that as hard as you try, you can't change your partner. You can only change yourself.

Tip #4: Forgive and move on.
eHow.com wrote that you must forgive yourself and/or your mate for the pain they may have caused. By letting bygones be bygones, you can fix the relationship.

Holding onto past grudges makes things worse. Unless an indefensible mistake is repeated, learn to forgive and move on.

Tip #5: Take the blame.
Get-It-Done Guy said that when someone is upset with you and you want to fix the relationship, take the blame. Don’t just say, “Gee, I’m sorry you’re mad at me.”

LovePanky.com concurred that you should learn to give in. It’s that simple. Of course, it has to be mutual.

Tip #6: Make amends.
Your goal is to make the relationship work, so decide for yourself what amends to offer, advised Get-It-Done Guy. The possibilities are endless.

Tip #7: Review your relationship myths.
About.com wrote that for the most part, there are rules to follow to ensure a healthy relationship. Where the problems lie is following the wrong rules, myths or preconceived notions.

Tip #8: Erase self-sabotaging behaviors.
Whether or not your relationship succeeds depends on how well you are able to identify self-sabotaging behaviors, review the reasoning behind them, and conquer them, said About.com.

Tip #9: Adopt new relationship rules.
About.com recommended that you replace any negative actions and thoughts with positive, self-supporting and healthy rules to enable growth of a healthy relationship.

Tip #10: Make fixing your relationship a priority.
You can't change the past but you can change the future, said eHow.com. You must work to rebuild the love and affection. When you care about someone, you can fix a relationship.

Sources:

Albo, Bonny. "Create a Healthy Relationship - Fixing Your Bad Relationship." Dating & Relationships - Dating Tips and Relationship Advice. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 June 2012.
http://dating.about.com/od/gettingserious/a/badrelationship.htm

"How to Fix Relationships." Squidoo : Welcome to Squidoo. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 June 2012.
http://www.squidoo.com/howtofixrelationships

"How to Fix a Broken Relationship | eHow.com." eHow | How to Videos, Articles & More - Discover the expert in you. | eHow.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 June 2012.
http://www.ehow.com/how_5039697_fix-broken-relationship.html

"How to Fix a Relationship - Lovepanky." Lovepanky - Your Guide to Better Love and Relationships. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 June 2012.
http://www.lovepanky.com/love-couch/better-love/how-to-fix-a-relationship

Robbins, Stever. " Get-It-Done Guy : How to Repair a Relationship Quickly :: Quick and Dirty Tips ™." Get-It-Done Guy :: Quick and Dirty Tips ™. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 June 2012.
http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/repairing-a-relationship.aspx

Reviewed June 18, 2012
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith