You’re heading toward a divorce and you worry about how hard it’s going to be emotionally. You also worry that you may not feel very happy after the marriage ends, even if you know it is the right thing to do.
The good news is that you can and will feel happy. It may be hard, but that doesn’t mean it stays hard forever. Here are three reasons that psychologists discuss when breaking down this topic:
- Some people are in relationships that they describe as a “war zone.” This means constant fighting and arguing. Divorce may feel like a challenge, but their quality of life goes up so much after the split that they feel much better.
- Others just did not want to stay married. It didn’t connect with who they were and what they wanted out of life. They felt like it was holding them back. These people often feel a sense of freedom after the split, especially if they had a controlling spouse.
- Some people, especially parents, find ways to actually stay friends and be happy after the divorce. They know that they need to focus on getting to that point in their relationship because of their children. Divorce does not have to lead to a contentious relationship where the two of you never want to speak to one another again.
Plus, these are just three reasons. There are many potential upsides to divorce, especially coming from a relationship that is emotionally or physically abusive or getting away from a spouse who controls you and holds you back. Make sure you know what steps to take.