Are you wondering if your spouse is planning to ask for a divorce? You’re not alone. January has the dubious distinction of being named “divorce season” because of the annual spike in new filings.
Unhappy spouses often wait until the holiday season is over to break the news to their partners, but savvy partners can often tell that something is up before they’re told. Here are some of the main signs that your marriage is in trouble:
You fight a lot – or not at all
If you and your spouse constantly seem to be at each other’s throats, that’s never good. (If it seems to be coming from nowhere, you may even need to consider the possibility that your spouse is trying to goad you into calling things quits first.) While marital spats are normal, they shouldn’t happen over trivial things or all the time.
By the same token, if your spouse never fights with you about anything – even when you’d normally expect them to be upset – that’s not a good sign, either. It indicates that they may have mentally moved on and they’re just trying to keep the peace until they can make a physical break.
Your spouse is suddenly secretive – or way too attentive
Unless your spouse is just naturally private, unusual amounts of secrecy should be a cause for alarm. If they suddenly seem anxious about putting their phone down where you might see it or the password on the computer has changed, the odds are high that they’re hiding something – whether that’s another romantic partner or just a divorce lawyer’s number.
However, a spouse that suddenly turns unusually attentive could also be a sign of impending trouble. If your spouse is suddenly plying you with flowers, stopping to surprise you with coffee and doing other small things, they could simply be trying to distract you. Look around to see if some of their favorite things are missing and check the bank accounts to see if money is missing.
You know your spouse the best, so you know what signals an unusual change in their behavior. It’s usually wisest to trust your instincts. If you think a divorce may be in the works, you may want to take steps to protect your future.