Every marriage goes through rough patches. Sometimes they last a weekend, and other times they can drag on for years. Often, spouses can work through the issues on their own, but some couples benefit from marital counseling to get through the hard times. It’s not always easy to know when the marriage is worth saving and when it is beyond repair.
Because you and your spouse seem to be having more bad times than good, you may wonder if you are heading toward the end or if you are just having one of those rough patches. Of course, no two marriages are the same, and the reasons for your challenges are likely very different from those of other couples. Nevertheless, there seem to be common signs that indicate a marriage may be in serious trouble.
Are you seeing the signs?
If you get deep into a fight with your spouse and hear yourself thinking or even saying that you want a divorce, you are not alone. It is a common threat, though not every angry spouse will follow through with it. Divorce can provide the opportunity for a fresh start, but it can also be traumatic, so it isn’t a process you want to start without clarity. You may see some of the common red flags that tell struggling couples it may be time to call it quits, such as:
- You no longer feel like a couple. You and your spouse stop sharing important things like dining together, having fun and being intimate.
- You can imagine a happier life without your spouse. Perhaps you prefer to work late or stay away from home, and you may not even mind if your spouse found someone else.
- You and your spouse have no respect for each other. Do you do things to intentionally irritate each other or find you cannot even be civil when you are in public together?
- You feel more bitterness and resentment toward your spouse than empathy for what he or she is going through. Perhaps you can’t feel any tenderness when thinking about the early days when you first fell in love.
- The kids are the only reason you are still in the marriage.
- If you have been dealing with your spouse’s addiction to drugs, alcohol, gambling or other things, you may have wearied of asking him or her to get help.
No matter the signs you are seeing in your marriage, if you are considering divorce, your first step is to obtain as much information as possible about the laws in Florida and how they pertain to you. Having a strong legal ally can help ensure your rights are protected as you work to reach a fair and equitable divorce order.
