The Proverbial Marriage Crisis

We 've heard the story a million times about why married couples end up in the "marriage crisis".  But what really are the things that cause it?

There are several common causes of a marriage crisis. Some are easily resolved while others could end up in a divorce. Since the whole point of getting married is to stay together, it’s probably a good idea to try and resolve the problems that caused the marriage crisis in the first place. It could be a long haul, but a good therapist can work wonders.

Infidelity has become an all too common problem in many marriages. It is estimated that one in four marriages will face a problem with infidelity, whether on the part of the man or the woman. That is a considerable percentage and can certainly cause a serious marriage crisis! This one is probably best left to the professionals, should you want to try to continue the relationship.

And what about the new baby.

Although a happy event, having a new baby can also cause strain in a marriage. Cute as they are those little angels can cause a marriage crisis. Mom is completely absorbed with the care of the newborn and Dad could end up feeling left out. Not to mention that physical aches and sleepless nights leave little room for intimacy. All either of you want to do when you get a few minutes alone is to sleep.

Communication and understanding is vital if you want to avoid a marriage crisis when the new family member arrives. Get out alone together and leave the baby with a sitter or relative.  As simple as this may sound;

"It is important to your marriage".

Financial matters have been known to end a marriage or two. If the couple is worried about money, tempers can easily flare over small things like which brand of toilet paper to buy. If one partner is making more money than the other, it could also cause a marriage crisis, most particularly if the big earner is the woman. This situation worsens if one partner loses their job and is penniless. Even with shared money, one person will feel less worthy than the other. This can be resolved in one of two manners, a therapist or finding a new job.

Addictions are difficult at the best of times and can certainly impact a marriage. If one partner is more obsessed by alcohol, work or drugs than their spouse, this has a detrimental effect on the relationship and can lead to a marriage crisis. The spouse may try to put up with the behaviour, but sooner or later, things will flare up and the problems will be out in the open. The obvious solution would be to quit the addiction, which often requires professional help.

In some cases of marriage crisis, such as in the case of an affair, it may be preferable to both to simply end the marriage.

Trying to resolve friction in a marriage can take a lot of work and it is important that both parties decide if they are willing to resolve it and salvage the relationship.

From my personal experience, good counciling can be a magic bullet that saves quite a few marriages.

That is if both parties are willing to put forth the effort.