It can be difficult to know for sure when it is time to leave a marriage, but there are signs to look out for if you suspect it may be your best option. This article describes a few situations that could point to divorce.
In the movies, love always gets wrapped up with a nice ribbon at the end. In real life, however, things are a bit more complicated. Sometimes the important question is not whether you should take a chance on someone but whether your current relationship is working at all.
Some marriages are not meant to last, and so the critical thing for you to do, should you find yourself in a complicated marriage, is to know the signs that shout, “It’s time to end things!”
Let’s take a look at a few of the signs you might notice when it is time to leave a marriage.
Your Needs Are No Longer Being Met
Some relationships just seem to click. Part of the reason is that people have different emotional and physical needs, and sometimes couples just fall together in a way that everyone’s needs get taken care of. If your needs are no longer being met by your spouse, it could mean that things are coming to an end.
This is not to say that just because your spouse does not give you enough affection that you should neglect having an honest conversation. They may not know that they are being neglectful.
You Are Afraid to Ask Your Spouse for More Support
On the other hand, if you feel that you know how your spouse will react if you bring up that they are not meeting your needs—defensiveness, shifting blame, anger—and you fear that sort of response, you might need to brace yourself. The argument that comes from such a conversation can lead to a final break.
You Feel Obligated to Stay
Perhaps you have invested a significant amount of your time in your marriage. Doesn’t that mean something? Unfortunately, time does not heal all wounds. In fact, the longer a marriage has lasted despite being a bad fit, the higher the potential for ill feelings between spouses.
You Are Being Abused
While it should go without saying that if you are being abused—either physically or psychologically—you should seek help and try to remove yourself from the relationship, many people still choose to stay with an abusive partner. It is possible for a victim of abuse to love their abuser and to choose to stay in a situation that puts them in harm’s way.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
When It Is Time to Leave a Marriage, You Probably Already Know It’s Time.
Are you questioning whether divorce is your best course of action? Get in touch with me for a consultation today to learn what your options are and what steps you can take now.