The Most Common Reasons for Divorce
Even with the surge in marriage counseling, education, and family therapists, divorce remains a constant reality in society. Different issues may lead to a divorce, and the causes are often intertwined.
By understanding the top reasons for divorce, you might be able to make sense of the forces driving you and your partner apart. The following are the common grounds for divorce.
Communication Problems
Communication problems account for 67.5 percent of divorces. Keeping a good relationship alive requires communication. Disjointed communication can lead to resentment and frustration, which negatively impacts a marriage.
Open and honest communication allows you and your spouse to discuss any personal issues or disagreements you may have. Spouses who stop talking may feel isolated, lonely, and stop caring for one another. As a result, the relationship may break down.
Adopting mindful communication can be challenging, but improving and saving your relationship is well worth the effort.
Extramarital Affairs
Cheating is nothing new. But one party going outside of their marriage to satisfy their sexual needs can be the beginning of doom in any relationship. When an affair happens, partners can have a difficult time regaining trust.
The main reasons for cheating are anger, resentment, and differences in sexual appetite. Social media plays a significant role in our daily lives but unfortunately exacerbates adultery.
Mending your marriage after infidelity can be an uphill task. If both spouses commit to healing the relationship, they can rebuild trust, admit guilt, and learn to forgive. If this is impossible, however, divorce is an option.
Domestic Abuse
Abuse comes in many forms, and one partner may subject another to physical and psychological harm. Physical abuse is usually targeted at one partner and may spill over to children. Psychological abuse may come from a partner withdrawing affection as punishment, or as emotional abuse that takes the form of verbal abuse. Any kind of abuse can leave the victim feeling powerless.
Many people endure abuse in many marriages for too long out of fear or in the hope that the spouse will change eventually. While some abuse can end with counseling and therapy, other conflicts may require a domestic violence shelter to help and even end the relationship safely.
In extreme cases, the victim will need legal help to leave the abusive partner. Nevertheless, any form of domestic abuse is a valid reason for divorce.
Substance Abuse and Addiction
ubstance abuse and addiction often contribute to many divorces in the US.
Marriage is at risk when the addicted partner values an addiction more than the relationship. A spouse can have an addiction to drugs, alcohol, or gambling.
After therapy, some addicts recover, but in extreme cases, separating the addict from the other spouse and children is often best. When the addict doesn't want to get help or becomes a threat to the other partner, the next option is often divorce.
Financial Problems
Money can often be a source of conflict between married couples. Financial problems in a relationship can arise for a variety of reasons, including:
- Different spending or saving habits
- Income inequality issues
- Unstable financial situation
- Financial control by one spouse
- Different ideas about long-term financial goals
Money issues are tough to deal with. The best solution is to communicate openly about financial interests, especially during challenging times.
Your marriage probably won't be free of financial disagreements. But as with other marital problems, your marriage is more likely to survive if you tackle money problems as a team and with honesty.
Marriage is never easy. Sometimes even the best-intentioned couples cannot overcome their challenges and end up in court. Nevertheless, if divorce is not an inevitable outcome, you may be able to change course and work on your marriage before it's too late.
If you decide divorce is the way to go, contact us to schedule your initial consultation and get started on the path to a better future.