In Sickness and in Health: How to Navigate a Marriage Crisis

Good news, married couples! The divorce rates in the U.S. have gone down dramatically over the last decade or so.

Before you start celebrating this news too much, though, you should know that this doesn’t mean you aren’t ever going to find yourself dealing with a marriage crisis. There are still marriage issues that’ll pop up from time to time that could lead to real relationship trouble.

If you ever find yourself in an abusive marriage, that will be reason enough to consider filing for divorce ASAP. But otherwise, you and your significant other should do whatever it takes to save your marriage.

Here are some tips on how to successfully navigate a marriage crisis and avoid calling it quits on your relationship.

Figure Out What Your Marriage Issues Are

There will be some instances in which your marriage issues will be painfully obvious. If, for example, you and/or your partner have stepped outside your marriage and had an affair, that’ll be the main problem you’ll face.

But many marriage issues aren’t so cut and dry. If your marriage crisis falls into this category, you’ll need to work hard to figure out what issues you and your spouse are actually having.

More often than not, communication is a big issue for many married couples. You and your partner may need to take a step back and learn how to communicate more effectively to repair a problem like this.

Decide What You Can Do to Fix Your Marriage

If you’re in the middle of a marriage crisis, there is a decent chance that you’re going to put the blame on the other person rather than putting it on yourself. Initially, at least, it’ll be so easy to blame your spouse for the marriage issues you’re having.

If your spouse cheated on you, you may have a point. But if you want to repair your relationship, you’re still going to need to make it your mission to do what you can to fix things.

By looking inward, you’ll be able to steer clear of fighting with your spouse all the time. You’ll be so focused on what you can do to make things better that you won’t have enough time to lob insults at your spouse and put all the blame on them.

Come Up With a Plan for Repairing Your Marriage

You and your spouse are going to need to get proactive and create a plan for repairing your marriage. This will typically be easier said than done when you’re struggling to get along.

You will, however, need to kick around ideas on how you can get back on the same page. Doing it might be as simple as making it a point to spend more time together in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

But you might also need to look into possibly making big changes. For instance, if you or your spouse is working all the time and it’s taking a toll on your relationship, a career change could be in order.

Whatever you do, try not to get into too many arguments over the plan you come up with. This exercise should bring you and your spouse closer and show that you’re both willing to fight for your marriage.

Consider Attending Couples Counseling Sessions

In the past, there has been a stigma surrounding couples counseling. The thought has been that, if couples need to go to counseling, there is a good chance they’re on the verge of breaking up.

But this couldn’t be further from the truth! Studies have shown that about 70% of couples who seek counseling are able to create meaningful changes within their relationships.

That statistic alone should motivate you to want to go to couples counseling with your spouse even if you’re not in the middle of a marriage crisis. There is a lot to be said for going to counseling with your partner to strengthen your relationship.

Look For Ways to Reconnect With Your Partner

At the beginning of a marriage crisis, you and your spouse might not want to reconnect. But as time goes on, you’re going to have to find ways to begin spending time together and working on reigniting the spark you once had.

What will that look like in 2023? You might not be able to simply go back to doing the things you did when you first started dating your spouse.

In fact, you could make the argument that you shouldn’t take that approach. Instead, you and your spouse should find new ways to connect so that you can take your relationship to a whole new level.

Be Patient

A marriage crisis will usually feel very sudden. Something will happen that will turn a marriage upside-down and leave both parties feeling frazzled.

But the truth is that most marriage crises are a long time coming. It often takes quite some time for a rift to develop between two people who are married.

For this reason, you shouldn’t expect a marriage crisis to work itself out in a matter of just days. You and your spouse will need to remain patient and continue to put in the work to repair your relationship.

Use Divorce as a Last Resort

At the end of the day, you and your spouse might not be able to move past a marriage crisis. Not every married couple will be able to save their relationship and get back on good terms.

If you and your spouse decide to end your relationship, you’ll need to explore the idea of hiring an attorney to help you. It’ll quickly turn into a legal matter that’ll need to be addressed.

You should try to find a contested divorce attorney right away to guide you down the right path.

Try Not to Let a Marriage Crisis Derail Your Relationship

When you’re in the heat of the moment, a marriage crisis might seem like the end of the world. You may not think there is any way you’ll be able to save your relationship and move forward with your spouse in your life.

But as you’ve seen here, there are so many ways in which you can try to bridge the gap between you and your spouse and save your marriage. It’s worth giving it a shot.

Read more legal articles pertaining to marriage and divorce by poking around on the rest of our blog.