LoveLifeHaven Team
When it comes to the reasons why relationships fail few people can have a better insight than divorce attorneys. Every day these legal eagles are faced with couples who are splitting up for a variety of different reasons. However, it seems that there are a few common factors in many break-ups. So, whether you want to avoid making the same mistakes in your relationships or hope to learn for the future, here are the 8 biggest reasons why relationships fail – according to divorce attorneys!
1. Not Pulling Your Weight At Home
When it comes to running a home and looking after the kids it is often left to the woman to do much of the work. Of course, this is a throwback to times when women stayed home while the men went out to work, but with more women working than ever before it should be up to both partners to chip in with the chores. San Diego divorce attorney Puja A. Sachdev explained,
This resentment only gets worse when there are children involved and often the only way out that these over-worked spouses can see is divorce. Sad to say, this is a problem that mainly affects women so, comes on guys, pull your weight or lose your wife!
2. Lack Of Communication
A lack of communication can put a wedge between any couple, especially when problems go unaddressed. Rather than having a sensible, grown-up conversation about something, many couples instead ignore the situation and hope it will just get better. However, over time, as more unspoken problems build up the relationship becomes undermined. As a divorce coach and attorney Karen Covy of Chicago explained:
Being able to address your issues together and find solutions will not only prevent the resentment from the building but will also strengthen your relationship. Ignoring things will only make matters worse!
3. Drifting Apart
Another common complaint is that people just feel that they have drifted apart and don’t feel like the person they married is the same person they are with today. There can be a lot of reasons for this, including taking your other half for granted, but generally-speaking this happens as you stop spending time together. Pittsburgh attorney, Carla Schiff Donnelly said:
Maintaining an active relationship and spending time together is an important way to stop this from happening.
4. Feeling Taken For Granted
As time goes on it is all-too-easy to take your partner for granted. This is especially true for married couples, as Atlanta attorney Randall M Kessler explained:
Where once you made an effort for your other half, this feeling of ‘safety’ in your relationship can cause complacency to settle in. Forgetting that you both have a choice to be in the relationship can lead to all sorts of problems that can fester away for years. As Kessler concluded:
Try to bring the spark back into your relationship and try to do things for each other every day.
5. Selfishness
Whether it is being tight with money, not listening to your other half, or helping out – it seems that selfish behavior is behind a lot of divorces. However this selfish behavior shows itself, it can really undermine a relationship, leaving one spouse feeling taken for granted, unappreciated, and quite simply like they are constantly losing in love. Alison Patton, an attorney from San Diego notes:
So, again, try to think of your other half rather than just yourself all the time.
6. No Sex Life / Intimacy
Another common complaint is that there is a lack of physical intimacy. This can include your sex life, but will also include more platonic gestures such as snuggling up together on the sofa, or holding hands when you are out together. This lack of intimacy can cause havoc in relationships and can become a habit if it is allowed to go unchecked. When was the last time you just put your arms around your spouse (without expecting sex)?
Lisa Helfend, an attorney from Los Angeles, explained:
7. Different ‘Love Languages’
It is possible for you to love your other half deeply, but fail to properly show them. This can be down to a disparity in how you view love. As Marina Del Rey attorney Dennis A Cohen explains;
Understanding what you both want and need from your relationship will help you get over this hurdle. Maybe you just want a little more quality time together or you need some more physical intimacy? Knowing what you want and being able to explain that without casting blame will help you get through this misunderstanding.
8. Social Media Cheating!
As social media has grown in popularity, so it has become more common as a cause for divorce. However, it is not really a new problem so much as a new twist on an age-old one – cheating!
As New York attorney Douglas Kepanis notes:
Infidelity is often a real deal-breaker, but it can be worked through by some couples. There are often underlying reasons why one spouse decides to stray and these need to be fixed while trust, intimacy, and a connection need to be built up again. Sometimes this is too much to ask – but not always! However, if you can spot the signals before the cheating happens you can get your relationship back on track.
