The consequences of staying in an unhappy marriage are very dire. There is absolutely nothing that can be compared to living a peaceful and happy life.
Happiness is priceless, and peace of mind aids in greater productivity. Where there is a need for these, things turn out to be uninteresting, frustrating, and pointless.
No one ever gets married and expects to become saddled with unhappiness. But what happens when the road gets rocky and looks like it is beyond repair? You begin to consider the options of holding on or letting go.
When it seems this connection has been severed between married couples, and there are no hopes for re-connection, the consequences are disastrous, as it is most likely to affect even one’s health.
What are the Consequences of Staying in an Unhappy marriage?
The consequences of staying in an unhappy marriage include Depression, Loneliness, Anxiety etc. but for the purpose of this article, we will be talking about seven(7) consequences of staying in an unhappy marriage.
7 Consequences Of Staying In An Unhappy Marriage
There are a lot of consequences of staying in an unhappy marriage, and some of them include:
1. Chances of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Pretty High (PTSD):
A terrifying event can cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental health condition brought on by experiencing or witnessing it.
Flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the incident are possible symptoms.
Most people who experience traumatic events might initially struggle to adjust and cope, but with time and good self-care, they typically get better.
You may have PTSD if the symptoms worsen, persist for weeks, months, or even years, and affect your daily functioning.
It can be crucial to seek effective treatment after developing PTSD symptoms to lessen symptoms and enhance function.
Usually, PTSD has often associated with life-threatening events.
Likewise, in relationships, being betrayed or hurt by a loved one affects a person psychologically. If this happens to you, your body will go into a state to protect you from emotional obliteration.
Anxiety and feeling like you’re losing control will freak you out.
And that will be incredibly depleting. You find yourself in a constant state of unrest, and you’ll worry endlessly about being betrayed again.
2. Experiencing Increased Anxiety And Depression
On the whole, depression and anxiety may appear to be pretty distinct.
While anxiety primarily manifests as intense worry, nervousness, and fear, depression is characterized by a persistent low, depressed, or hopeless mood.
But there are some crucial symptoms that these ailments do share.
You might not always be able to interpret your symptoms precisely because these conditions can manifest differently in different people.
Additionally, it is possible to experience anxiety and depression simultaneously.
It is expected for people in unhappy marriages to close off and shrink constantly, with depression and anxiety eating away from the inside.
This shows that there is an emotional disconnection between you and your partner, and this puts neither of you in a good place.
When a person is in this state, they begin to crave or hold on to every sliver of reassurance they can get from their partner. That is a result of constant worry, making sleeping, relaxing, or even focusing difficult.
3. The Feeling Of Loneliness
A complex and individualized human emotion, loneliness is experienced by all people at some point in their lives. The prevention and treatment of this potentially harmful mental state can vary greatly because there is no single common cause.
While most definitions of loneliness refer to feeling alone or alone in the world, loneliness is a mental state—lonely people experience empty, lonely, and unwanted feelings.
Lonely people frequently yearn for human interaction, but their mental state makes making friends more challenging.
Many experts agree that loneliness is not always associated with being alone. Instead, loneliness affects your state of mind when you feel isolated and alone.
Feeling lonely due to an unhappy marriage is inevitable and an expected outcome. But loneliness can also cause health complications, like: raised blood pressure, which increases the chances of a heart attack and stroke.
4. Negative Effect On The Kids
In an unhappy marriage, the couple is not the only one prone to suffering. If they have children, they are bound to go through every bit of unhappiness, just like their parents are.
This is bound to happen no matter how well they try to shield them from the consequence. The love and warmth provided by both parents are somewhat chilly when the marriage goes down bumpy roads.
5. Insecurity And Lack Of Confidence
It is not the easiest thing to heal and move on from a heartbreak, like some superman woman—likewise, the effect of staying in an unhappy marriage. Trust was involved at the beginning, and one of the results of heartbreak is broken trust as well. The lack of love from a partner will cause heightened anxiety and insecurity.
6. Self-doubt
Staying in an unhealthy marriage causes self-doubt. A person begins to lose confidence in themselves, they are most likely to blame themselves, and this only grows guilt, which could make it hard to move forward.
7. Increased Emotional and Physical Pain
Staying in an unhealthy marriage can cause a lot of emotional damage. Sometimes, a person’s perception of love changes, and they find it difficult to love and trust again.
There is more of a struggle with pain when someone is emotionally disconnected from the person they love.
Most expect to be looked after, taken care of, and reassured by their partners. But disappointment could turn into rage, hate, and full-blown pain when this isn’t forthcoming.
How Do I Get Out Of A Bad Marriage
Being imprisoned in a security center for an offense is probably not as terrible as being trapped in an unhealthy marriage.
A lot is involved: emotional turmoil, broken trust, shattered love, and the struggle of deciding between family and freedom. It is one of the most miserable situations to be found in.
However, when things are beyond your control – you’ve done your best to make things work, but nothing positive seems to be coming out in return, it will be no shocker when you find out ways to get out of a bad marriage.
Five Steps On How To Leave A Bad Marriage
Firstly, before we discuss the steps to leave a bad marriage, You must ensure that you’ve thought thoroughly about the action you’re about to take. Be sure you’re not overreacting because of some minor issue or silly quarrel.
You must also have put in considerable effort to mend your marriage. Only then can you justify your actions for wanting the leave, and if you genuinely tried to make things work. You don’t want to go around having regrets when you finally end your relationship.
It is easy to think about leaving your marriage- you can dream it up every day, but it is harder to make a move or take that bold step. Before you do anything, you should have a solid plan, and these are some of the steps you can take into consideration.
1. Make A Full-proof Plan, And A Backup Plan, If Necessary
There’s no harm in writing down your strategy on how you would want to leave. Also, write your experiences in that bad marriage, especially if it is a case of abuse, and this could prove to be useful if needed as evidence.
2. Don’t Leave Empty-handed.
This might be fine if you already have a business and are financially independent. But, if you are not, you should take saving money very seriously. Learn how to be independent.
3. Seek Help!
This is important, especially for victims of abuse. Some support groups or communities offer help and are experienced in dealing with relationship problems.
4. Avoid Communication With Your Partner
It is more challenging than it sounds, but it is possible. Try to limit all communications with your partner, aside from divorce negotiations.
Don’t put yourself in a tight situation by enduring abuse, and don’t accept to be manipulating. This can happen if your spouse gives false promises with the intent of swaying you.
5. Stand Strong
Taking that bold step to end your marriage will take work. You will probably want to rethink your decision, but when it’s time to tell your spouse, make sure you stand firm.
Don’t let your threats from your spouse push you into backing out. You might never get this chance again; it might just be your first and last.
Final Thoughts
You can do many things to address relationship dissatisfaction and strengthen your bond. Just because you’re unhappy in your marriage doesn’t mean it’s toxic or unsalvageable.
A sincere and compassionate discussion about the changes you can implement with your partner is an excellent first step. A couples therapist can help you start the conversation if you feel overwhelmed and unsure where to begin.
Ultimately, even if this relationship doesn’t satisfy your needs, you still have the right to find love and happiness elsewhere.
Remember, you deserve to be happy and to live a peaceful life.