What's Your Reason For Staying In A Marriage That Doesn't Make You Happy?
Not all marriages end in a "happily ever after." Some unhappy couples split up, and others remain together due to any number of unique circumstances. A divorce may not be a feasible option for everyone, even if it's desired.
Perhaps you and your spouse fell out of romantic love after 15 years of marriage. But, because you function so well as roommates and co-parents, you decided not to go through the expensive and exhausting divorce process. Since you're unhappy as a couple, you both decided to start dating other people for romantic fulfillment. It's not a conventional arrangement, but since you want to avoid paying legal fees and explaining everything to your friends and family, this is the best you can do.
Maybe you're stuck in an unhappy marriage because you realized you're queer but subscribe to a religion where that's heavily frowned upon. You're afraid to live authentically, and you're married to someone who provides you with financial and emotional stability. You're afraid you'd break their heart, and you're afraid of being shunned by all your friends and family, so you won't get divorced.
Or, perhaps you're a part of a religion that does not condone divorce for any reason whatsoever. Your spouse cheats on you constantly and doesn't care that it hurts you. They know you're essentially stuck in the marriage, so they do whatever the heck they want. You're miserable, but you know that if you leave, you'll risk losing everyone and everything you know and love.
If you're in a marriage that doesn't make you happy but don't plan on getting a divorce, we want to hear your story. Tell us in the comments or share your story anonymously using this form for a chance to be featured in a BuzzFeed Community post. We appreciate your vulnerability and bravery in sharing your story.
