All marriages go through rough patches. While many couples can get through them and build upon the strength of their marriage, for others that’s not so easy to do. And if you continue to struggle with your marriage, you might find yourself wondering if it’s time to seek divorce. That’s a major decision, and it isn’t a choice that should be made lightly. But how do you know if it’s really time to end your marriage?
That’s a question that only you can answer. But in the remainder of this post, we want to give you some signs of a toxic marriage, which may help you recognize when it’s time to get out. Hopefully then you can gather any additional information you need about the divorce process and can make the fully informed decision that’s right for you and your future.
There can be a lot of indicators that your marriage is failing. Here are some of the most common signs of marriage toxicity that may indicate that it’s time to consider divorce:
- A lack of communication: Tough circumstances are bound to arise in your marriage. If you and your spouse can’t talk about them without getting into an argument or distancing yourselves from each other, then things likely aren’t going to improve. The conflict caused by this lack of communication can fester, too, making your marriage utterly unbearable.
- A lack of trust: Marriages have to be founded on trust. When they’re not, one spouse can become domineering as they try to figure out the other’s every move while questioning the motivations behind every action and inaction. While this can be exhausting to deal with, it can also become toxic, leaving you feeling like your spouse is trying to control your life and attempting to cut you off from the happiness you deserve.
- Constant fighting: This is probably the most common sign of a toxic marriage. If you and your spouse fight over every little thing, then it’s going to be hard to find common ground on serious issues, and it’s possible that neither one of you will be able to find happiness while you’re together.
- A lack of emotional connection and support: When you’re in a marriage, you and your spouse should be able to rely upon each other and share your hopes, dreams, and fears about the future. When all of that is cut off, you can feel isolated. This might leave you feeling forced to look elsewhere for the support that you need, such as by expanding your social life, which can take your focus off your marriage and lead to big fights with your spouse.
- A lack of control: In many toxic marriages, one spouse takes control over all aspects of the relationship. This includes control over marital finances. This can leave you feeling like your spouse is bullying you into certain decisions and stripping you of the freedom you need to build the life that you want.
If so, then now is the time to read up on the divorce process and how to protect your interests throughout it. You’ll likely need evidence pertaining to your marital assets and your relationship with your children, so be sure to fully discuss these matters with your attorney.
Although the thought of fighting to get out of a toxic marriage can be stressful or even frightening, divorce may be the best way to salvage your future. And you might be able to resolve your marriage dissolution in a fair and amicable way. So, don’t let the fear paralyze you. Instead, use it as motivation to craft the most persuasive divorce legal arguments possible under the facts.