On behalf of The Law Office of Gustavo E. Frances, P.A.
The vast majority of people enter into marriages thoroughly intending to stay with their spouses forever. Few like to even vaguely entertain the idea that they may one day get divorced.
Thus, when a marriage becomes a consistently unhappy experience for both partners, they may nevertheless be reluctant to end the relationship.
This is understandable. It’s also important to keep in mind that no blog post can possibly tell you whether getting divorced is the best course of action. This is a topic you need to thoroughly consider when making such a personal decision.
However, it’s also important to realize that some people are so determined to avoid divorce that they end up staying in unhappy marriages for what could be bad reasons. Examples of such reasons may include:
Fear of being alone
One of the most common reasons that people stay in unhappy marriages is a fear of being alone. They may worry that they won’t be able to find another partner, or that they will be ostracized by family and friends if they end the marriage.
However, staying in a marriage simply because you’re afraid to be alone can, ironically, lead to feelings of loneliness. You don’t have to be physically alone to feel you aren’t truly with someone you love.
Financial dependence
Another common reason that people stay in unhappy marriages is financial dependence. They may worry that they won’t be able to support themselves or their children if they leave the marriage. The problem is, staying in a marriage solely because of financial dependence can eventually cause you to feel you’ve lost agency over your life.
Fear of change
Leaving a marriage is a major life change, and it can be scary to think about the unknown. People may worry about how they will adjust to life on their own, or they may worry about what others will think of them.
This is natural. It’s simply wise to remember that change in and of itself isn’t negative. Change can actually be positive in many circumstances.
Believing that divorce is wrong
Some people stay in unhappy marriages simply because they believe that divorce is wrong. They may come from a religious or cultural background that frowns upon divorce, or they may feel that divorce is a failure. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for someone to end up feeling bitter if they subject themselves to an unhappy marriage because they feel they have to due to religious pressure.
(Once more, though, this is a personal matter. Your faith may be so genuinely important to you that remaining married is worth the sacrifice.)
All that said, if you finally realize you’re staying in a marriage for the wrong reasons, you might decide it truly is time to move forward with a divorce. It’s important to have proper legal assistance if so.
At the Law Office of Gustavo E. Frances, you’ll find a Fort Lauderdale divorce attorney who understands that getting a divorce can be a complex and overwhelming experience. Luckily, with the right guidance, you can navigate this experience with greater ease than you may have expected. To learn more, contact us online or call us at 954-533-0334.
