When a happy marriage seems to slowly deteriorate into an unrecognizable mess, there are three main approaches that couples usually take. The first deals with denial – couples may ignore the problems they face until they become so great that divorce is the only solution. The second involves constant bickering and fighting, physical abuse, and mental anguish that leads straight to divorce court. The third centers on the couple that knows they are having problems, but wishes to resolve their differences and make the marriage work. Below are a few tips to deal with the rocky road you may have ahead of you:

1) Identify the Problem(s)

While infidelity is one of the #1 reasons that marriages fall apart, there are plenty of other things that can distance two people from one another. Married couples often fight over financial strain or disagreements over parenting. Before a marriage can undergo repair, it is important to identify the problems that are causing the rift in the first place. You never know when changing a few bad habits will make the world of a difference in a marriage.

2) Share Feelings

When things are bothering you in regards to the marriage, it is important to express these feelings with your partner. How can things run smoothly in a relationship if one person is harboring unhappiness with their spouse, who is completely unaware? Sharing feelings opens the lines of communication to begin a journey through rediscovery and reestablishing understanding.

3) Be Honest

When sharing feelings or asked for your honest opinion, it is vital to be completely truthful with your spouse. In the end, both partners will be satisfied and happy when they finally reach the same plane. When not telling the truth or holding back feelings, the relationship will suffer further because one person will always carry unresolved baggage.

4) Get Away

Sometimes the pressures of the household, job, and the settled routine that some marriages slip into, gets too much to bear. Stepping outside of the normal schedule and getting away is a great way to rekindle a marriage. Suggestions include staying at a deluxe hotel for a weekend, vacationing in Hawaii, driving to a couple's retreat, or trying a new adventure, such as kayaking, mountain climbing, or hang gliding.

5) Attend Counseling

When both partners have tried to come to a common ground with their problems with no success, counseling might be the last resort. Some couples will only respond to the analysis of a professional, who offers support and structured sessions geared towards saving a marriage. The techniques that counselors use are designed to bring the best out in couples.