There’s no easy path to thedecision to divorce, and the journey through uncoupling is different for everyone.
Only you know whether you might or should repair your relationship.
But there are signs that can help you decide when it’s time to divorce.
Verywell / Jiaqi Zhou
And there are also signs that, withrelationship counselingand hard work, your marriage can be saved.
Is Your Marriage Worth Saving?
Ending a marriage can be incredibly complex and challenging.
Admitting you may not love your partner anymore can be difficult.
Counseling, either together or separately (or both), can help you with the decision-making process.
However, there are many more signs that are not so clear.
Each of these issues should still be taken seriously.
Keep in mind that deciding whether or not to separate is a very complex and personal issue.
Not all of the following signs alone indicate that your relationship can’t recover.
Indeed, the toll negative relationships take on physical and mental health can be huge.
Some research suggests that chronically negative or abusive relationships can even shorten your lifespan.
Abuse
Anabusive relationshipneeds to end.
Abuse is never acceptable and no one deserves it or should have to live with it.
It’s important to seek support if you are dealing with abuse in your marriage.
Keep in mind that abuse is not always physical and can come in other forms, includingemotional abuseandverbal abuse.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
On top of that, bigamy is illegal.
Constant Criticism
Is your partner always putting you down?
This could be bad for your health.
Criticism is also one of theFour Horsemen of the Apocalypsewhich clinical psychologists Drs.
John and Julie Gottman use to predict the end of a marriage.
The other three red flags:stonewalling, defensiveness, and contempt.
This is something that could be explored with a counselor to see if compromise is possible.
Cheating
Infidelitycan be extremely difficult to experience.
While cheating often lead to divorce or separation, it doesn’t always mean it will.Somemarriages can survive infidelity.
Whether yours can may depend on the circumstances of the infidelity and the presence of other complicating factors.
Couples' therapy will be essential to moving beyond infidelity.
No matter the source,financial worriescan create serious conflict in a marriage.
Inability to Compromise
Compromising is essential to a healthy relationship.
You may feel like you’re always putting more into the partnership and that your needs are never addressed.
You Love Each Other
A strong emotional connection may not be enough to sustain a troubled marriage.
But it may be the push you should probably seek help and begin reconnecting.
Smaller disagreements may have clouded the picture, but you have a strong foundation from which to rebuild.
Getting Help
Being unhappy in your marriage causes stress and pain.
If you belong to a religious congregation, you may be able to access resources there.
you might also consideronline marriage counseling.
Find out which option is the best for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be very difficult to know if your marriage is worth saving.
For many people, abusive behavior and infidelity are signs that a marriage is beyond repair.
Abuse is never okay, and help is available if you are experiencing it.
But some marriages can survive infidelity.
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