| The decision to divorce is never an easy or simple | | | | keeping the unhealthy relationship afloat and walking |
| one. There are many considerations that come into | | | | on eggshells with your partner, you are unlikely to be |
| play - shared history, living arrangements, finances, | | | | able to be fully engaged with your children and |
| beliefs in the permanence of the commitment, | | | | attendant to their needs. |
| finances, concerns about mutual family and friends, | | | | 2. There is untreated addiction in your spouse, and he |
| and of course, the children of the union. Watching a | | | | or she refuses to get any help or treatment. Again, |
| life transition as major as divorce affect children can | | | | you are unlikely to be able to give your children all |
| be heartbreaking. However, there are situations | | | | the focus and attention they need if you are |
| where it becomes necessary, and even a more | | | | constantly absorbed with your partner's various crises |
| desirable solution to leave a marriage than to stay. If | | | | brought about by his or her drug or alcohol use. |
| the marriage has become poisonous or toxic to this | | | | Moreover, your spouse may be a safety or neglect |
| degree, the damage of staying, even upon the | | | | risk to your children under the influence. You may be |
| children, may be greater than leaving. Here are 3 | | | | faced with legal and financial consequences as a |
| signs that a divorce may be a better option than | | | | result of your partner's choices (DUI's, personal injury, |
| staying: | | | | or even charges related to a death while high or |
| 1. There is abuse in the marriage. If you are being | | | | drunk). |
| physically abused, this is very dangerous, and it often | | | | 3. Your spouse engages in serial infidelity. While a |
| escalates in severity over time. Please contact a | | | | marriage can successfully survive and thrive after an |
| domestic violence shelter or counselor that specializes | | | | affair, if your partner continues this pattern of |
| in domestic violence issues to create a plan for safe | | | | behavior, there is no foundation of trust to build a |
| exit. Otherwise, if you are being emotionally and | | | | marriage upon. Your children are watching your |
| psychologically abused, the effects may not be as | | | | marriage as a role model, and pick up more than you |
| obvious as a physical injury, but they are | | | | know. As with the other scenarios, if you are |
| tremendously damaging. With respect to your | | | | emotionally distraught and consumed with keeping |
| children, they are observing a model for a relationship | | | | the marriage afloat in these circumstances, you are |
| and marriage through you, and the effects of seeing | | | | less likely to be attending fully to your children's |
| you beaten, or psychologically harmed are damaging | | | | emotional needs. |
| to your children. In addition, if you are consumed with | | | | |