VWB Blog Saving a marriage can be one of the biggest challenges many will go through during life.
Whether married for a short time or for many years, trying to avoid a divorce can be difficult.
With that in mind, how far will you go to save your marriage?
Start by Assessing what the Problem is
In trying to save your marriage, it is important to figure out where the problem is.
Among some of the reasons marriages get into trouble:
- Cheating – One of the unfortunate reasons marriages can be on the rocks is when one or both partners cheat. Although the signs of cheating can be hard to find, there will usually be one or more red flags to alert a person. From a partner being less intimate and compassionate to being gone much of the time, know what to look for.
- Money – It is not uncommon for partners to argue over money. As such, a marriage can go downhill from there when this happens. Do your best to get through such tough times. When money is an issue, see how you can improve things. It may come down to working more or looking into taking out a loan to hold you over. Some couples even decide to go to money management counseling.
- Children – As important as your children are to you and your spouse, they can bring the stress at times. This can especially be the case when one of the parents is not the actual blood parent. In being a stepparent, one tries to oversee kids minus creating a rift between them and the actual parent. If your stepchild is not respecting you, talk to their blood parent and your partner about this.
- Stress – Last, stress in general can work its way into a marriage. From work to health issues and more, stress can make one or both partners uneasy. When this happens, the marriage can suffer as a result. Find ways to ease the stress. When you do, you may well see an improvement in your relationship sooner than later.
Don’t Be Afraid to go for Counseling
Unfortunately, there can be a stigma when it comes to seeking out marriage counseling.
As it turns out, such counseling when your marriage is in trouble can be the deciding factor.
With that in mind, you should look to see if counseling is for you and your partner.
Among some of the advantages that can come out of counseling:
- Hearing one another – In many marriages, hearing what the other says does not always happen. With an impartial person in the room, the both of you can speak your mind and still hear what the other is saying.
- Getting fresh ideas – A counselor can provide fresh ideas on how to go about bringing life back to a marriage. As such, you may discover something neither one of you had thought about.
While marriage counseling is not for all, it has helped get many marriages back on track over time.
So, if your marriage is on shaky ground these days, how far will you go to save it?