Are You Stuck in a Toxic Marriage?

 Posted on September 04, 2015 in Divorce

It can be difficult to tell when a relationship takes a turn for the worse. Marriage can be a source of joy, love, and support, but the health of a marriage can decline over time, leading to many couples stuck in unhappy situations. How does one tell if they are stuck in a so called toxic marriage, meaning a marriage that no longer provides happiness, but instead depression, anxiety, and a longing for something different? Going through a divorce is a difficult process, but one that may be worth it if you are no longer happy with your life. While only you can truly determine if you are happy and fulfilled or not, there are a few signs that may indicate that you are no longer in a healthy marriage.

The first things to pay attention to is your current relationship with your spouse. Do you feel attacked by them? If your spouse is constantly criticizing your every move, and making you feel like you simply can not do anything right, you no longer have a healthy relationship. No spouse should feel the need to retreat from the other out of fear of being criticized. You both should be working together as a team.

Consider your attitudes towards your spouse as well. Are you flat out mean to each other constantly? Do you make a point of pushing each other's buttons? A little jesting here and there is perfectly normal and healthy, but if your relationship has become purely mean to each other, your marriage may have turned toxic.

Also think about your love life with your spouse. Humans need to be touched, loved, and feel connected to each other. If you are not receiving the intimacy you need from your spouse, or your sex life has dropped off the face of the earth, you have a problem.

Explore your own personal happiness levels. Do you find yourself happy and enjoying life or are you depressed? Do you constantly have to fight the desire to cry? Sometimes our subconscious emotions are so strong, even if we ourselves are not aware of the problem, that they will eventually start affecting you.

Have you lost your social life or your relationships with friends and other family members? If you once had a strong social life and connections with friends and family that is now gone, you may be experiencing depression that could be caused by your marriage.

Do you feel love for your spouse? If you cannot remember the last time you had the thought, "this person is the right one for me," your relationship could be in danger.

Think about how you describe your relationship with your spouse to your friends and family members. Do you tell your friends and family that your relationship is great when in reality it is quite the opposite? Nobody likes to share every dirty detail of their marriage, but having to lie about your relationship is a pretty sure sign of unhappiness.

In the end, only you can truly determine if ending your relationship is the best option. Chances are, if you are in a toxic marriage, you already know about it, even if it is only subconsciously. While deciding to get a divorce is a difficult decision, and going through a divorce is a long, strenuous, emotionally draining process, it is worth it if your happiness is at stake. If you are considering a divorce, having the help of a qualified DuPage County divorce attorney can be necessary.

Source:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/divorced-moms/signs-youre-in-a-toxic-marriage_b_8043670.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063