Being trapped in a toxic relationship can cause you a lot of stress, anxiety and depression, not to mention the possibility of psychological damage. You shouldn’t let yourself be subjected to a relationship that’s harmful to you. Yet, far too many people try to ride out the bad times in their relationships, hoping that they’re just stuck in a rut and that everything will correct itself in time. Others are simply too afraid to head into divorce out of fear of what their post-marriage dissolution will look like.
Signs that your marriage may be failing
So how do you know if the rockiness that you’re seeing in your marriage is justification to seek divorce? That’s a question that really only you can answer. However, if any of the following signs are present in your marriage, you might want to start considering whether taking action to end your relationship is your best option.
- Lack of communication: Communication is key to a strong marriage. But if you feel like it’s hard to share your feelings with your spouse or it’s difficult to discuss important matters without getting into a fight, the foundation of your marriage is damaged.
- You avoid your spouse: If you actively try to avoid your spouse by going out with friends or staying at work later, your current home life probably isn’t right for you. Try to think through what it is about your spouse that makes you want to stay away from them.
- Intimacy doesn’t exist: A lack of intimacy can lead to infidelity and an overall disinterest in the relationship. So, if you find that your marriage lacks physical and emotional intimacy, it may be time to move on.
- Financial problems are driven by your spouse: Money problems are a common reason why people divorce. Spouses can disagree over how income should be spent, how money should be saved and how to handle existing debt. If you feel like you and your spouse can’t get on the same page about your finances, and your spouse is causing financial hardship, you might need to think about breaking away from them.
- Abuse exists in your relationship: Whether it’s physical, emotional or verbal, abuse can cause you a lot of trauma. This trauma can lead to long-term effects that you don’t deserve. Therefore, if you’re in an abusive relationship, you need to find a way out of it. Divorce may be your best option.
- There’s disrespect: In order to have a successful relationship, you and your spouse have to respect each other. If you feel disrespected, you might feel abandoned in your relationship, and you may grow to resent your spouse.
- There are differences in how you and your spouse want to raise your children: Your children are probably your top priority. But if you and your spouse can’t agree on how to raise them, your relationship can be defined by conflict. When those differences can’t be settled, it might be time to consider marriage dissolution.
Help is available when you’re ready to consider divorce
The decision to divorce is a hard one to make. And regardless of which direction you choose to go, the ramifications can be significant. That’s why if you want to make sure you have a clear understanding of what divorce means to you, you might want to discuss your situation with an attorney who can guide you through the process and help you to achieve the outcome that you deserve.