Marriage rates supposedly are on the decline. While it’s an oft-repeated
statistic that 50 percent of first marriages end in divorce, that
number has remained unchanged for the past 30 years. Divorce rates also
vary with the partners’ level of education, religious beliefs, and many
other factors.
But when divorce does happen, it results in difficulties for adults as
well as children. For adults, divorce can be one of life’s most
stressful life events. The decision to divorce often is met with
ambivalence and uncertainty about the future. If children are involved,
they may experience negative effects such as denial, feelings of
abandonment, anger, blame, guilt, preoccupation with reconciliation, and
acting out.
While divorce may be necessary and the healthiest choice for some,
others may wish to try to salvage whatever is left of the union. When
couples encounter problems or issues, they may wonder when it is
appropriate to seek marriage counseling. Here are seven good reasons.
1. Communication has become negative. Once
communication has deteriorated, often it is hard to get it going back in
the right direction. Negative communication can include anything that
leaves one partner feeling depressed, insecure, disregarded, or wanting
to withdraw from the conversation. This can also include the tone of the
conversation. It is important to remember that it’s not always what you
say, but how you say it.
Negative communication can also include any communication that not only
leads to hurt feelings, but emotional or physical abuse, as well as
nonverbal communication.