The Toll Kanye West’s Outbursts Have Taken on His Marriage to ‘Very Protective’ Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West at the VMAs in August. (Photo: Splash News)

It’s safe to say that the last few weeks haven’t been easy on Kim Kardashian and her husband Kanye West.

Almost two months after Kardashian, 36, was robbed at gunpoint in Paris and had millions of dollars worth of jewelry stolen, West, 39, has been hospitalized for exhaustion.

Now, sources tell PEOPLE that indeed, the couple’s relationship has been under some strain.

“The last few months have been difficult for their marriage,” says one insider. “They bicker a lot and things are not great.”

According to the insider, in the week leading up to his Monday hospitalization, West — who also canceled the remaining 21 dates of his Saint Pablo tour — had been “very difficult.”

“He is exhausted and overwhelmed,” says the insider, who adds that Kardashian has not been “thrilled” and appears “less patient” with West than in the past.

“With the tour canceled, Kim hopes that Kanye will feel better soon,” says the insider. “He needs to shape up for them to work out.”

That being said, the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star is sticking by his side: On Monday, the star skipped out on the 2016 Angel Ball in New York City — which honored her late father Robert Kardashian, who died of esophageal cancer in 2003 — in order to rush back to Los Angeles following West’s hospitalization.

The emotional event — which was attended by Kim’s mother Kris Jenner, as well as her sisters Kourtney and Khloé Kardashian — would have marked Kardashian's first public appearance since the robbery, and another insider tells PEOPLE the star had been truly looking forward to it.

“Last night was a huge deal for her returning to the spotlight,” says the source. “She had been so excited about attending the ball with her mom and sisters, but as soon as she landed, she turned right back around to be by Kanye’s side. She had to go be with him as soon as possible.”

Of the couple’s dynamics, a third source tells PEOPLE that West “has always treated Kim like he’s her queen,” and that for her part, Kardashian is “really good about sort of bowing down to him and telling him what he wants to hear” — but that doesn’t mean she agrees with his often outlandish behavior.

“She definitely rolls her eyes when he goes into his mode or rants,” says the source. “She’s also very protective of him, but he can be exhausting.”