Statistic show that the number of couples divorcing in the UK has risen for a fifth year in a row.Before the romantics amongst you start weeping with joy, this may not be what it seems.It is suggested that the reason divorce rates are dropping is because fewer couples are marrying and that the rates that measure the end of marriages does not take into account that amount of co-habiting couples that end their relationship.
The good news is that there do seem to be fewer divorces because people are seeking therapy and relationship counselling and that this is helping couples work through their problems, and therefore enabling them to stay together – meaning fewer people ditching their diamond engagement rings.But when couples do threaten divorce, when the yells of “I’ll see you in court!” come ringing through the house and diamond rings are flung into the bin, what are the causes?
The most popular cause of marriage breakdowns are cited as being due to ‘irreconcilable differences’. This handy little phrase can be used for every instance where a couple simply can’t pinpoint why they don’t want to be together anymore or why the relationship just doesn’t work.It is often cited in divorces where couples got married very young, and have grown apart, and where couples cannot agree on a fundamental issue such as whether to have children or not.
Domestic violence is another cause of divorce. Women who are in abusive relationships can access help and support in leaving their marriages, where once they would have felt isolated, alone and too frightened to leave.Infidelity is yet another cause of divorce, but interestingly, is not a factor that necessarily means the end of a relationship.
Many couples find themselves in this situation – where one of them is having an affair – because of underlying issues within the relationship. When the affair is discovered, once the anger and hurt has receded, the couple are sometimes able to discuss their problems with the right help and support and come through it.When infidelity cannot be overcome, it is no longer a case of diamonds being forever and the marriage becomes another sad statistic that ends in divorce.