Why Couples Divorce?

If you think your married life is not going well and is beyond repair, it will likely end with a divorce, which can be tougher when you are in a long-term marriage. This is particularly relevant as cases of gray divorce, that occur after the age of 5, are on the rise.

21 Reasons Why Couples Separate After 5 Years

 You Have Fallen Out Of Love

Some couples have a good life together – nurturing the family, parenting the kids, and sharing their duties – but they may have fallen out of love

. This happens gradually as they grow apart over the years. Due to the burden of responsibilities and challenges of life, they may have lost affection toward each other. Many couples try to avoid the truth for several years but realize and accept it one day. Thus, they get separated in search of their respective happiness.

Infidelity

No matter how old a person gets, they can still have sexual desires that may be unfulfilled in their marriage.

When intimacy becomes stale or is lacking in a marriage, one spouse may look elsewhere to rediscover carnal pleasures. Infidelity is also one of the primary causes of divorce in a long-term marriage. It can also be referred to as a symptom of the breakdown of a marriage.

A Desire For Independence

Those who have been dependent on their spouse for too long often look for independence as they age. It may happen when they go back to work after the children are out of the home.

 The more financially stable one is, the more inclined they become towards being independent. Being financially independent also means more confidence in their ability to start over alone after a long marriage.

Unresolved Past Issues

There may be some unresolved issues from the past that can resurface after several years. Couples may hide their problems in the closet for the sake of their social image, happiness, or kids, 

but there comes a time when they can no longer fake it or live with it. Things such as a big lie, cheating, an accident, a nasty fight, a debilitating illness, etc., may keep resurfacing until they call it quits.

Wanting Something Better Out Of Life

The things someone wanted out of life when they married at 25 may change once they hit 55. That is why couples grow apart over the years. They become strangers or just two individuals living under the same roof. Couples who undergo midlife crises often leave their marriages searching for a new identity. They also do so to relieve themselves from the pain that they experience during their middle age.

Lack Of Communication

Lack of communication is one of the leading causes of divorce after years of marriage

. After a point in time, you may fail to communicate your emotions and affection to each other.

 When you share your thoughts and feelings with your spouse, you feel understood in your relationship. Your feelings are validated, respected, and cared for by your partner. A lack of communication breeds distrust, self-doubt, and insecurity, which can be damaging to your bond. If this essential element is missing, two people become distant, leading to divorce.

Lack Of Equality And Identity

An ideal marriage should involve open communication and compromise with enough breathing room so that both parties feel they have a meaningful stake in the partnership

. Being married is not just about staying together. A relationship can be suffocating when you don’t give it the time and space it needs to flourish. Spending time together is great, but there should be space for each person to explore their likes and interests. If you are with each other most of the time, the relationship can get claustrophobic. It is okay to seek out friends who have similar tastes in music, movies, cultural events, and more. Maintaining your own identity helps you keep your sanity, which is healthy for your marriage.

Old-Fashioned Mentality

If one of the partners has an orthodox mentality, it can result in divorce. One of you may have an old-fashioned outlook on certain things in life. One of the partners is often too rigid to change with changing times in such cases. They like to stick to their orthodox mentality while the other likes to be dynamic and stay up to date with the latest trends. When their mentalities differ, they can find it challenging to stay in sync with each other.

Abusive Relationship

If there is a pattern of domestic abuse in your marriage, then it is time for you to walk away. Abuse can be of different types – physical, mental, emotional, financial, or sexual. Constant displays of anger, withholding money, and other negative behaviors can ruin your marital life. In some cases, domestic violence may be coupled with external issues such as substance abuse, loss of a job, or the death of a close friend or family member. Staying in an abusive relationship is not healthy and safe, and it is better to walk away from such a marriage, even if it is after 5 years.

You Got Married For The Wrong Reasons

Some people have unreasonable expectations when it comes to marriage. If there is a constant tension between you and your partner, problems will arise, and sooner or later, there will be cracks in the relationship. All marriages have ups and downs, but there should also be a natural flow and order to your relationship. Sometimes, people stay in unfulfilling marriages for years out of a fear of being alone. But, they may realize years later that that’s no way to live.

Mistrust And Lies

The foundation of a healthy marriage is open and honest communication. Even small lies can block emotional intimacy between partners. Lying to a spouse about little things can pave the way for lying about bigger things in the future, like your finances, attraction to someone outside the marriage, and whether or not you’re happy in the relationship. Even catching your spouse in a small lie can cause you to question whether they were honest with you in the past, thus putting you on edge and making you feel uneasy in the marriage.

Addiction

When you think of addiction, you probably think of drug or alcohol abuse. But, addiction can take many forms, and it can threaten couples who have been together for years. Addiction can be of different types, such as gambling, pornography, uncontrollable spending, or infidelity. When addiction is present in a marriage, it will cause a spouse to lie, cheat, steal, or otherwise betray the foundational trust that a marriage is built upon. Hence, addiction is one of the most common causes of divorce after two decades of marriage.

You Were Never In Love

Some couples have been married for five years but may have never been in love with one another. They may pretend to be a happy couple for the sake of their social image or their children. They may have gotten married due to family pressure and never had any compatibility or bonding between them. Love is the fuel that keeps the ship sailing, but in the absence of love, two people eventually drift apart.

Professional Failure

Professional failure can harm a marriage. Professional failure can lead to a financial crisis and make the failing partner feel unworthy. Despite all efforts, it can bring a fundamental change in the marriage. Stress from such failures may lead to divorce.

Different Sexual Preferences

Sexual intimacy is a crucial part of every marriage. Many people shy away from discussing such topics. They may even come out of the closet after a few years of marriage. 

They may hide their sexual preferences or sexual orientation for several years out of fear of oppression. They may take years to muster the courage to disclose their sexual orientation to their partner. Such a revelation may end in divorce.

Kids Leaving Home

The presence of children in your house has an enriching effect. A home once lively and vibrant with children – their laughs, jokes, endless talks, and fights – suddenly becomes empty and dull when they grow up and move away. 

It is a difficult transitional phase for parents when their house becomes vacant. They are left with only each other, and the entire family dynamic shifts. It can make both of you realize that you are incompatible with each other. Children often act as the connecting link between two people. Once they move out of their house, the couple may drift apart. Kids leaving home is a significant factor contributing to middle- or old-age divorces.

Lack Of Emotional Support

In a marriage, emotional neglect occurs when one partner consistently fails to connect with or respond to the other. Emotional neglect can also occur in the form of silent treatment. When a partner emotionally withdraws,

 it can be said that they are manipulating the other person into changing their behavior or punishing them for some perceived wrongdoing. They may ignore their partner’s feelings and emotions, which can have far-reaching negative consequences.

Financial Issues

Financial issues are a significant source of stress among couples. A person’s monetary problems can produce such overwhelmingly negative feelings and self-criticism that their mental and physical health can be adversely affected. Financial distress can also have adverse effects on a person’s relationships and family life. Severe economic hardship can lead to potentially detrimental lifestyle changes and cause adjustment problems. This can lead to divorce even after twenty years of marriage.

Therapy And Counseling

When couples find the bond between them diminishing and themselves drifting apart, they may seek help from a professional therapist. While undergoing therapy, they may realize that their incompatibility and differences have no scope of improvement. The counselor can help them decide the right thing to do, considering the situation. In that case, the couple can mutually decide to get divorced and free themselves from an unhappy marriage.

Unrealistic Expectations

Getting married with lofty expectations is easy, but expecting your spouse to live up to those expectations is wrong. When you are married to someone, it is natural to expect many things, but one shouldn’t have unreasonable expectations. 

These expectations can put a lot of strain on the other person, leaving you feeling let down and setting your spouse up for failure. Wrong expectation setting can become one of the reasons for divorce years later.

Difference In Personal Growth

Individuals tend to have different perspectives on life, one’s goals, and future plans. Everyone looks forward to personal growth, to improving oneself and one’s quality of life with time. It is always an ongoing process. But sometimes, in a relationship, only one person attains growth and realizes their aspirations, while the other languishes behind. In such a situation, partners may find it difficult to meet each other halfway, and the difference in personal growth can manifest in the form of a disconnection. Due to a long term difference in plans, they may fall apart even after 5 years of marriage.

These are some commonly observed grounds for divorce after five years of marriage. If you identify any of these in your relationship, you must get conscious about where your marriage is heading. Getting a divorce after five years of marriage can be difficult, but you can always cope with the situation using the tips listed in the following section.