not happy because of:

the arguing over little stuff,

feeling manipulated by the other,

wanting a parent in addition to a partner and not getting it.

etc.

One of the main reasons we attract potential partners is due to our patterns in our family of origin. We are usually looking for someone who feels familiar (key word here familiar has the word family in it). or as you write AG about comfort zones.

If you came from a family where there was divorce or death of a parent early on and you haven't fully dealt with it - the partner you attract may have similiar or opposite problems and on and on...

Clients of mine seeking relationships or in a relationship not going well. I would ask them how was their relationship with either the opposite sex parent or the dominant parent. Likewise I would encourage them to ask their potential or current partner how their relationship was with the opposite sex or dominant partner in their family of origin. If no emotional work was present in the other potential or current partner, or if they hadn't done any emotional work either in group or individual therapy then... the relationship would be an acting out of what you didn't get, or did get in your family of origin.

But other than that, it’s a good piece. 😊