Sadly, many people find themselves in unhappy marriages, where they struggle to imagine a future with the person to whom they are married. In more extreme cases, aggressive fights, manipulation and mind games may have created a toxic relationship. If you are in a toxic marriage you likely hold a great deal of resentment and mixed emotions when it comes to your spouse. You will likely want to get a divorce, but you may, at this moment, feel that achieving this will be impossible.
The fact is that everyone has the right to file for a divorce if the marriage is not working and if it has no potential for getting better in the future. The following are some steps that you can take to finally move forward and break free from your toxic spouse.
Speak to your support network
Ideally, you will have close family or friends that you can confide in about your situation. Tell them about your plans to file for divorce, and bring up your worries and concerns. If housing is one of your main concerns, your support network may offer you temporary accommodation when they realize how serious your situation is. If violence or harassment is a concern, you can protect yourself by gaining a restraining order. If you feel that you have no one to talk to about your marriage, you should invest in the services of therapy or counseling.
Envision your future
The reason that you have so far not filed for divorce might be due to fearful ideas of what the future might hold. You might imagine that your spouse will try to take everything from you at divorce, that they will insult you and wear you down emotionally, or that you will not be able to survive financially on your own. Try reframing your situation by envisioning how you want your life to be two years from now. If you see yourself independent, thriving and, most of all, happy, now is likely the right time to start taking action.
Divorcing a toxic person can be challenging. However, by gaining a good understanding of the law and preparing for the possible scenarios early on, you will be at a huge advantage.