| Divorce is a difficult and painful life transition. There | | | | relationship. Your spouse's various drug or alcohol |
| are many considerations, including living arrangements, | | | | related crises may result in financial and legal |
| shared history, ideals of commitment, finances, and | | | | consequences, such as DUI, personal injury, and even |
| of course children of the marriage. Ending a marriage | | | | charges related to a death if someone is killed due to |
| is a serious step, but there are instances where the | | | | actions your partner takes under the influence. You |
| marriage may be toxic enough, and even dangerous, | | | | may even be at risk if, for example, you get in a |
| and merit taking this measure. Here are 4 instances | | | | vehicle with your partner after he or she has used. |
| where the answer "Should I divorce?" might be yes: | | | | 3. Repeated infidelity. A marriage can survive an |
| 1. Abuse in the marriage. Physical abuse is very | | | | affair, and even be stronger if both partners make a |
| serious and scary, and often escalates over time. | | | | committed effort to open up communication and |
| Please contact a domestic violence shelter, or | | | | increase accountability. However, if adultery occurs |
| another professional who specializes in this issue, to | | | | over and over, there may not be a foundation left to |
| determine the safest exit strategy. It is a very | | | | build any kind of marriage upon. In addition, you may |
| dangerous time when leaving an abuser. If you are | | | | be risking your health and even life by staying with |
| being psychologically and emotionally abused, this is | | | | someone who is not being faithful to you. |
| still very serious. The damage can be significant if you | | | | 4. Your partner has a personality disorder such as |
| are constantly subjected to criticism and controlling | | | | narcissism or sociopathy/psychopathy. If your partner |
| behaviors that make you feel incompetent and even | | | | is acting out as a result of such a disorder, perhaps in |
| crazy. | | | | the ways already described, this is a daunting |
| 2. Unaddressed addiction issues in your spouse. You | | | | situation. There is no widely accepted cure for these |
| will always take a back burner to your spouse's | | | | disorders, and if your spouse refuses to try to |
| quest for the next high, and it is likely your partner | | | | address the issue, you may be in a very difficult |
| won't be able to be available emotionally in the | | | | situation without much hope for change. |