The prospect of a divorce can be intimidating because of its finality. This is probably a good thing: The irrevocability of divorce helps you to give the decision the careful consideration it deserves.
On the other hand, second-guessing yourself about your decision could keep you in a doomed relationship longer than is healthy. How do you know when divorce is the only alternative or whether there is still a chance of salvaging the relationship? Family Education describes some steps you can take to determine whether divorce is the right decision.
Communicate your feelings clearly
If you are unhappy enough in your marriage to consider divorce, you need to share your feelings explicitly with your spouse. It is not fair to expect him or her to read your mind and intuit that you are unhappy, nor is it fair to spring the divorce conversation on him or her without any warning.
Listen to what your spouse has to say
Communication is a two-way street. It is not enough to tell your spouse about your feelings; you also have to listen to what he or she has to say and try to understand his or her point of view.
Seek professional help
It can be helpful to seek the guidance of an objective third-party with training and experience in helping people work out their problems. A counselor or therapist can help facilitate communication between you and your spouse. Couples counseling does not always save a marriage, but it can help you to achieve clarity about your decision, one way or the other.
Ideally, these steps help you to salvage your relationship. If they do not, however, and you can honestly say that you have done everything in your power to save the relationship, divorce is probably the only option left available to you.