With so many marriages ending in divorce, people wonder why they are falling apart. But usually marriages don't crumble because of one huge, traumatic event — it usually happens because people have been slowly crumbling their relationship over time. Here are four secret threats to your marriage that you've accidentally been doing every day:

1. Not saying thank you

Saying thank you, or otherwise recognizing and appreciating your spouse, is absolutely essential. Being grateful and appreciative helps you recognize how much your spouse is really doing for you, and gives you both a more positive outlook. Showing gratitude will also encourage your spouse by showing him or her that their help is genuinely appreciated. Because it can be so easy to begin taking your spouse for granted, it is even more important to make sure you are recognizing and thanking them for their efforts.

2. Gossiping

Saying unkind things about your spouse to others can destroy your marriage. We all have certain weaknesses; as you learn more about your spouse's, do not vent about those things to other people. It undermines your relationship and keeps you focused on the negative things about your spouse instead of the positive things. In abusive situations, however, it is important to seek help from the proper authorities.

3. Using social media

Obviously, there's nothing inherently wrong with using social media; but when used in excess, this can be destructive to your marriage. Not only does using social media distract you from spending quality time together, but it also constantly shows you the highlighted reels of other people's lives. Social media can begin to make you believe that your relationship isn't as good as someone else's — a false assumption, as social media doesn't show the whole story. Leave the virtual world alone a bit more and focus on spending real time with and enjoying life with your spouse.

4. Prioritizing your kids above your spouse

This one can be tricky; children are wonderful, and spending time together as a family is great for your marriage. But you also need to make the time to spend needed, one-on-one time with your spouse. Never forget that your relationship is special. Take some time alone regularly to renew your marriage and focus on each other.