Every spouse hopes to feel madly in love forever. A partner can begin to feel suffocated in marriage when the relationship evolves into something not as fun and spontaneous as before. The article "When You've Lost That Loving Feeling," by Linda and Charlie Bloom, illustrates the feelings couples go through when one person is no longer happy. The Blooms say people sometimes leave a relationship too soon because the infatuation leaves. They urge couples to understand that relationships take work, and that a spouse who feels suffocated or claustrophobic has to speak up. The Blooms urge couples to make every effort to work through relationship issues together, perhaps through marriage therapy, relationship retreats or spiritual counseling.

In order to work through feeling trapped in marriage, you and your partner must break down defenses. In the article "When You Feel Trapped in a Marriage," Dr. Kalman Heller says spouses get wrapped up in defending their own actions by blaming the other person in the relationship. For instance, partners no longer speak or have any intimacy. They both feel ignored, disregarded. Dr. Heller says this couple has built up walls and has thereby built a marriage that feels like a trap.

Feeling trapped in marriage is usually a symptom of larger issues. The trapped impression comes after one partner begins to lose feelings once held toward the other. This partner eventually looks for ways to create distance, according to the article "Hope for Couples in Crisis" by Dr. James Dobson. Dr. Dobson says the partner feeling trapped often endures the increasing fear of rejection by the other partner. When a spouse who is overbearing and clingy relinquishes the attempt to control the other spouse, the door to the bird cage is opened. Dr. Dobson furthermore suggests that a slow rebuilding of the marriage can occur when the spouse who once felt trapped feels released.

A spouse feeling trapped in a marriage may find the problem has little to do with the marriage itself. Sometimes a partner who dedicates time and effort to spouse and family ends up neglecting personal desires. The article "Are You Trapped and Unhappy," written by marriage and family therapist Darlene Lancer, says a spouse who neglects personal wants can end up feeling resentful towards the other spouse. Lancer says in order to help a situation like this, the spouse feeling trapped must be supported in finding an outlet. A new hobby or new job may help create the independence necessary to cure the claustrophobic feelings.