tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196672001311955009.post-54147446801086556072008-02-14T21:28:00.000-08:002008-02-14T21:32:07.361-08:00<span style="font-family:arial;">How To Know When to Call It Quits</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">How do you know when to throw in the towel or when your marriage has reached the point of no return? Ask yourself some key questions before making the decision to file for divorce. </span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Are the two of you fussing with one another over trivial matters?</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Does just about everything about your spouse irritate you?</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Has your spouse physically or emotionally abused you? Are you afraid of your spouse?</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Do you believe that your love, patience and hope have just all run out? </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Can you communicate about anything or do you always end up in a disagreement? </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">When you fight, do you fight fair? Do either of you bring up past hurts? </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">When was the last time you had fun together? </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">When was the last time you felt sexually attracted to each other? </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Do you still make love?</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Do the same problems keep resurfacing again and again? </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Have you tried counseling? </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Can you accept that your personal unhappiness is your own responsibility? </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Does your spouse constantly put you down, attack your self-esteem, and/or criticize you? </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Do you have any respect for your spouse? Does your spouse respect you?</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Are you willing to co-parent the rearing of your children with your ex-spouse? </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Are your goals and values different? </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Can you compromise on important issues? </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Has your spouse been unfaithful?</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Do the same problems keep resurfacing again and again?</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Do you have dreams of divorce or that your spouse died?</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Do you have a plan if you do divorce? </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Are you able to cope with the financial and emotional stresses of divorce?<br /></span></li></ul><span style="font-family:arial;">Tips:</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">It is important that you face the realities of divorce and not the fantasy. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Sometimes an unhealthy relationship cannot be saved and divorce is inevitable.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Realize that you must keep yourself emotionally and physically healthy through this stressful time. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">You won't make rational decisions if you are depressed or sleep deprived.<br /></span><br /><a href="http://marriage.about.com/cs/breakingup/ht/callquits.htm"><span style="font-family:arial;">http://marriage.about.com/cs/breakingup/ht/callquits.htm</span></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">©2007 About.com, Inc., a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.</span>Dr. Kathy Nickersonnoreply@blogger.com