Q I’ve been married for 12 years, unhappy for the last few but don’t want to get divorced because of my kids. Five of my close friends are divorced and seem happier now. 

A Marriage is definitely a crap shoot where a couple jumps in with good intentions and hopes for the best. What most of us don’t realise is how challenging making a life with someone can be. When we are in the middle of life’s just-trying-to-get-through-the-day minutia and see our close friends happy in their new, post-split lives, it’s difficult not to be influenced. In fact, one study found people are 75% more likely to ‘copycat divorce’ if one of their friends is divorced.

Is divorcing a good idea for YOU? In certain scenarios. But problems will occur if you do it because of peer pressure. You need to take a good hard look at how much time and effort you’ve put into your relationship in the last few years – or if you’ve let your happiness slip by coasting along. Every relationship has times when both want to throw in the towel but eventually it gets better. If it doesn’t, having divorced pals can provide a built-in support group with the reassurance it’s possible for everything to work out.

Great Relationship Tip: Sometimes fixing couple issues centers around working on our own self-esteem; otherwise you might end up with the exact same issues in your next relationship.

Sex and relationships expert mumsonline.ie Read 

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