Every marriage has its ups and downs, and many don’t make it, but even in this reality divorce is a hard possibility to broach for any couple. When most people hear divorce they assume the cause is infidelity. However, cheating is far from the only reason couples choose to move on.
These are some of the most common causes for divorce.
People change
Though these stats are changing, many people still get married at a relatively young age. To be clear, there’s nothing wrong with deciding to be with someone at 18 or 19, but expect for your young marriage to have to persevere through a series of major life changes will change both of you as individuals and may cause you to be very different people. It’s very possible to be in love at 19 and out of love by 25. But the same goes for any marriage, and people change at 35, 35, and even 55 in ways you can’t always predict.
Graduating college, building your career, moving out, buying a house, having children, having children move out, retirement, or the death of a parent are all things that can completely change you.
Money woes
They say money is the root of all evil, and it might be true considering the number of marriages broken by financial strain. No matter your income bracket, you can still manage your finances poorly. Differing views on handling money is an easy way to upset the balance of a relationship.
Money often also causes power imbalances in the relationship. If your partner is unemployed for a long time, you might feel they’re not contributing their fair share. Your judgement and their money-related feelings of inadequacy can weaken the partnership.
There are many ways money can ruin a relationship, from poor spending habits to disagreements about savings philosophies. Unfortunately, finance management is a part of life and relationships, and there’s no way of getting out of this one.
Addiction
Addiction is another common reason couples split up. Don’t take it lightly. Addiction can be hereditary and is often out of someone’s control. The best way to treat addiction is to destigmatize it, talk openly about your struggles, and seek help. But no matter how understanding your partner is, it’s not easy to live with. To have your husband or wife fall trap an addiction can destroy a marriage.
Abuse
Abuse is another upsetting reality of some marriages. It’s also a great example of when divorce is the best choice. No one should remain trapped in an emotionally or physically abusive relationship. If you can safely escape and divorce your abuser, you should. You can reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233.
Divorce is a sad reality. Those who have gone through a divorce will tell you that it’s usually not a single event that causes the final break. Although nobody intends to divorce when they enter a marriage, it can also lead to a much happier future for both people involved. To those struggling with the above issues, (unless you’re in a abuse situation) there is often hope in trying to work things out. If there’s nothing left to salvage or you can’t try anymore, there’s no shame in deciding to divorce.
