The decision to divorce is often one of the most difficult choices a person could make. Divorce brings about certain change, and sometimes, those who divorce find themselves struggling for a time after they separate. This may be one reason why many who are living in unhappy marriages decide to stay put rather than taking the step to end their marriages and start a new life.
You may be among those who continue to postpone the decision to divorce. You may have your own reasons for remaining with your spouse. On the other hand, you may not know how to recognize when the time is right and that things are not going to improve in your marriage. While every marriage is different, there are some common factors that exist among couples who decide the time is now to start the divorce process.
How do I know?
If you have been married for a while, you may feel you have invested too much of your life to just call it quits. It is certainly true that when a couple is married for years, many aspects of their lives become entangled. They have children, share property and rely on each other financially. While it may seem impossible to untangle these complications, you may want to ask yourself the following questions:
- Is your preoccupation with your marriage troubles affecting your ability to do your job well?Do you feel impatient, frustrated or stressed when dealing with your other relationships, such as your children or friends?
- Is your health starting to suffer, such as experiencing weight loss or gain, insomnia, headaches or other ailments?
- Do you feel as if you have given everything you can give to the marriage?
- Are you indifferent toward your partner, or does your spouse show indifference toward you?
- Have you and your spouse lost all affection, companionship, common interests and intimacy?
- Have you made unsuccessful attempts at marriage counseling or tried in vain to get your spouse to seek counseling with you?
- Does your spouse refuse to seek treatment for his or her addictions?
- Are you the victim of abuse or infidelity from your spouse?
Answering yes to any of these questions may indicate that you are not likely to find happiness or fulfillment in your marriage. Accessing available resources, such as a counselor, may help you find perspective. You may be wise to take some time to thoughtfully consider the options available to you and to obtain as much information as you can about your rights and protections under Florida law.
