What exactly is a toxic marriage? Well, it’s easy to define: it’s just about the worst thing that could happen to your life. Once you’re in one, you’ll find that nothing makes sense anymore — or gets better — and even if you try, you won’t be able to get away from them alone easily.
While this isn’t something many people ever want to think about, it’s important for anyone who might think they are in a bad relationship (or knows someone who is) should know what these signs are like because once you spot them, it will become much easier to see if there really is an issue.
If any of the following sounds familiar, then you should definitely be worried about your relationship with whoever it is that claims to be your spouse.
Here are seven signs you might be in a toxic marriage without realizing it:
1. You’re Always Apologizing for Everything
If you’ve ever had to apologize for something that isn’t your fault, then it’s likely you might be in a toxic relationship. A toxic marriage can make you feel like everything is your fault and like it’s the only way to solve problems (even when they don’t exist). If someone is always needing to apologize whenever there is an issue, it means they are not confident enough in themselves and see their spouse as more powerful than them. This will create conflict and overall just makes life very difficult indeed.
2. You or Your Partner Gets Too Aggressive During Fights or Arguments
An argument should never get physical, even if things do get heated sometimes. If you find yourself swinging at each other because of some petty argument, then you’re clearly in some sort of toxic relationship where nothing is ever resolved. This type of behavior shows that you are constantly under the thumb and just feel like it’s not possible to get ahead or out of this situation without some form of conflict.
3. You’ve Stopped Trusting Your Spouse
You’ve probably noticed quite early on in your marriage or relationship that you don’t always trust your partner completely — and we all have those days when we find ourselves wondering if they’re being faithful behind our backs. However, if you’ve found yourself questioning your spouse every single day, then it’s likely that they are not trustworthy.
4. You’re Never Happy Anymore
It’s normal to have a bad day or two, but if you feel like your life is a constant black cloud and you’re always sad for no reason, then it could be because of a toxic relationship. If you’re stuck in this situation, it will make everything look dark, and the only thing that makes sense right now is feeling depressed about yourself and your life. It’s better to contact a divorce lawyer to discuss your options as soon as possible, so you don’t have to live with the anxiety any longer.
5. Your Spouse Always Blames You for Everything
In every relationship, there are going to be fights about money, work commitments, time with friends… But when these problems become constant, and one partner always blames the other, then something is not right. It’s important that relationships take the good with the bad — after all, if they didn’t, then you wouldn’t be in one at all.
6. Your Partner Has an ‘Attitude’ All the Time
If your spouse has a constant ‘attitude’ and gets annoyed or angry about everything, even things that don’t make sense (or shouldn’t), then it’s likely they might be using anger as a distraction from something else going on — like having a serious problem and doesn’t know how to talk about it. If this person was happy and cheerful most of the time, then maybe you could ignore them having an attitude, but if it’s their main personality trait, then there is definitely cause for concern.
7. They Have Mood Swings That Make No Sense to You
Completely random mood swings are a sign of a toxic relationship because it could mean that they’re not comfortable with who they are and will accuse you of things just to feel better about themselves. For example, if your spouse is perfectly fine one minute and then becomes unbearably angry out of nowhere, then this could very well be the case. Now, there might be other reasons for mood swings, so you shouldn’t jump to conclusions straight away, but it’s definitely something to look into.
If you’re noticing any of the signs mentioned above, it might be time to reconsider your relationship. While it’s not always easy to admit that things aren’t right, it’s better to face the facts head-on and take action sooner rather than later. If you need help getting out of a toxic marriage, please don’t hesitate to reach out for support.