When to Get a Divorce or Keep Trying: 9 Signs to Watch For

Deciding what to do with a struggling marriage can feel like carrying the heaviest weight on your chest.

You might catch yourself lying awake at night, wondering, “Is this just a rough season, or is it the end of the road?”

Some days, the love you once shared still shines through; other days, the silence between you feels louder than words. It’s confusing, exhausting, and so deeply personal. Friends may offer advice, but only you know the reality behind closed doors.

The truth is, no one hands us a perfect guide for love… we’re all figuring it out. And sometimes the hardest question of all—when to get a divorce—sits quietly in the back of your mind, waiting for an answer.

What does it mean to consider divorce vs. keep trying?

When couples reach a breaking point, the question often lingers in the air—do we fight for this, or is it kinder to let go?

Considering divorce doesn’t always mean you’ve failed; it can simply reflect how much pain, distance, or unmet needs have built up over time.

Keep trying, on the other hand, often grows from a place of hope, shared history, and the belief that love can still be rebuilt. Both choices carry weight… and both deserve compassion, patience, and honesty.

When to get a divorce or keep trying: 9 signs to watch for

Deciding whether to hold on or let go of a marriage is one of the most personal choices you’ll ever face.

Some moments make you wonder if love can still be repaired, while others leave you wondering quietly inside, “Is this really the end?”

While every story is unique, there are certain signs that help reveal whether you’re moving toward healing… or facing the painful reality of separation.

1. Constant lack of respect

Respect is the foundation of any healthy marriage. When partners belittle, dismiss, or mock one another, it creates wounds that can be difficult to repair. Without mutual respect, love often feels more like a struggle than a safe space.

Over time, constant disrespect chips away at trust, leaving you drained and unsure of what to fight for. If you repeatedly feel invisible or unvalued, it may be a sign that it’s time to get a divorce.

Here’s when to keep trying:

• If disrespect comes from poor communication habits that can be relearned.
• If your partner acknowledges the issue and shows willingness to change.
• If you both can commit to counseling to rebuild healthy patterns.

2. Infidelity without accountability

Affairs can shatter even the strongest bond. It’s not only about the betrayal itself, but also about how a partner responds afterward. If there’s denial, blame-shifting, or refusal to rebuild trust, it’s nearly impossible to move forward.

Accountability and remorse are key—without them, healing rarely happens. This is one of the clearest signs of when to get a divorce, especially when cheating becomes a pattern.

Here’s when to keep trying:

• If your partner takes responsibility and cuts ties with the affair.
• If there’s a sincere effort to rebuild emotional and physical intimacy.
• If you both agree to professional help and commit to recovery.

3. Ongoing emotional or physical abuse

Abuse—whether verbal, emotional, or physical—is never acceptable. Living in constant fear or walking on eggshells robs you of safety, joy, and freedom. Even when apologies follow, the cycle often repeats, leaving deeper scars each time.

If abuse is present, the question is no longer how to tell if I should get a divorce… but how to protect your well-being. Knowing when to get a divorce here often means prioritizing your safety above everything else.

Here’s when to keep trying:

• If what you’re experiencing is more about conflict mismanagement than actual abuse.
• If both of you are safe and open to structured support.
• If there’s no pattern of control, manipulation, or repeated harm.

4. Unresolved conflict that never ends

Every couple argues, but when fights repeat endlessly without resolution, resentment builds. You may find yourself rehashing the same issues—money, parenting, household roles—without any progress. Over time, these repeated battles leave you tired and hopeless.

If conflict is constant and solutions never stick, it becomes harder to see a future together. In some cases, knowing when to get a divorce means realizing that peace may not come within this relationship.

Here’s when to keep trying:

• If arguments stem from miscommunication, not deep incompatibility.
• If you both can pause, listen, and try new ways of problem-solving.
• If external help (like therapy or workshops) could offer practical tools.

5. Loss of emotional connection

When the marriage feels more like roommates than partners, it signals a deep disconnection. Intimacy isn’t only about sex; it’s about feeling seen, valued, and emotionally bonded. If you’ve stopped sharing thoughts, dreams, or everyday moments, loneliness creeps in.

This emptiness can make you question whether there’s anything left to nurture. Recognizing how to know when to get a divorce sometimes comes from realizing emotional closeness has completely faded.

Here’s when to keep trying:

• If you both still want to reconnect, even if slowly.
• If small acts of intimacy—like shared activities—can be rebuilt.
• If counseling helps you understand why the disconnection started.

6. Different visions for the future

Couples often start strong but later realize their life goals no longer align. One may dream of children while the other doesn’t; one might want to travel while the other craves stability. These differences create tension and regret.

Without a shared vision, it’s hard to feel like a team. If compromise seems impossible, it may indicate when to get a divorce and start building the life you truly want.

Here’s when to keep trying:

• If differences are about timing, not values.
• If compromises feel fair and balanced.
• If you both stay curious and open to each other’s dreams.

7. One-sided effort

A marriage thrives when both partners give and receive love, care, and energy. However, when one person carries the relationship while the other barely invests, it creates an imbalance. Over time, resentment grows, leaving the “giver” exhausted.

If change never comes despite repeated conversations, it may signal that the marriage cannot survive. This imbalance often forces you to reflect on when to get a divorce and stop carrying the weight alone.

Here’s when to keep trying:

• If your partner admits the imbalance and wants to step up.
• If outside stress (work, health) caused temporary neglect.
• If you can create new routines that share responsibility fairly.

8. Substance abuse without recovery

Addiction places immense strain on a marriage. The lies, broken trust, and instability often overshadow love. Recovery is possible, but only if the partner struggling with addiction commits to real change.

If they repeatedly refuse help, deny the problem, or relapse without accountability, the marriage becomes unsafe and unstable. At this point, many wonder how to know when to get a divorce because hope without action isn’t enough.

Here’s when to keep trying:

• If your partner admits the issue and begins treatment.
• If consistent recovery efforts are visible and reliable.
• If you both build a support system to manage challenges.

9. No willingness to change

Relationships demand growth and adaptation. When one or both partners refuse to change harmful behaviors or address issues, the relationship stalls. This unwillingness becomes a wall between you, blocking any chance of healing.

Love alone cannot fix what someone refuses to acknowledge. When there’s no effort to move forward, it may be time to face the fact that it’s time to get a divorce and choose peace over endless frustration.

Here’s when to keep trying:

• If resistance is fear-based, not defiance.
• If small steps toward change are visible.
• If outside guidance helps break old patterns.

How to tell if it’s time to get professional help

Sometimes love itself isn’t enough to untangle the hurt, the silence, or the endless arguments. That’s when professional help can make a real difference. A counselor or therapist offers a safe place to talk, hear each other, and learn tools you might never find alone.

If conversations keep looping back to the same fights, or if you feel like you’re living as strangers, it may be time to reach out. Seeking help isn’t failure—it’s often the bravest step toward clarity, healing, or closure.

7 questions to ask yourself before making a decision

Making a choice about whether to stay or leave a marriage is never simple. It’s not just about love or conflict—it’s about your well-being, your future, and sometimes the lives intertwined with yours. These questions may help you pause and reflect with clarity.

1. Am I staying out of love or fear?

Sometimes we hold on because we’re afraid of being alone, starting over, or disappointing others. Ask yourself if love truly keeps you here—or if fear is guiding the choice. Clarity often comes when you separate the two.

• What you might not know: Fear can disguise itself as loyalty, comfort, or even “duty.” If you mistake fear for love, you may keep yourself in a painful situation far longer than your heart truly wants.

2. Do I feel respected and valued?

Respect forms the foundation of any lasting partnership. If you consistently feel dismissed, belittled, or invisible, it can slowly break your spirit. Think about whether your partner makes you feel worthy, supported, and seen in daily life.

• What you might not know: Feeling valued isn’t only about compliments or gestures—it’s about everyday treatment. Disrespect can sneak in quietly through dismissive tone, lack of listening, or repeated disregard for your needs.

3. Have we truly tried to work on this?

It’s easy to feel like you’ve “done it all,” but have you both genuinely committed to change?

Effort looks like counseling, honest talks, or trying new approaches. Reflect on whether your attempts were consistent or half-hearted.

• What you might not know: Half-efforts often leave couples thinking they’ve “tried everything,” when in reality, they’ve never both been fully invested at the same time. Real progress requires equal, ongoing commitment.

4. How is this affecting my health and happiness?

Emotional strain often manifests in our bodies through stress, fatigue, or even illness. If your marriage constantly drains your joy or peace, it’s worth paying attention to. Ask yourself if staying is helping you thrive or slowly wearing you down.

• What you might not know: Chronic stress from an unhappy relationship can affect sleep, immunity, and even heart health. Emotional pain isn’t “just in your head”—it leaves lasting physical marks too.

5. What impact does this have on the children?

If children are part of your story, their well-being matters deeply. Kids notice tension, silence, and conflict more than we realize. Reflect on whether your relationship environment is nurturing them—or teaching unhealthy patterns about love and connection.

• What you might not know: Children don’t just witness conflict—they absorb it. Growing up in constant tension can shape their future relationships, self-esteem, and even how they handle conflict as adults.

6. Can I picture a future together?

Close your eyes and imagine life five or ten years from now. Do you see yourself walking alongside your partner with hope—or does the thought feel heavy? Your vision of the future can quietly reveal what your heart already knows.

• What you might not know: Sometimes, your body reacts before your mind does. Feelings of dread, heaviness, or anxiety about the future may be your intuition quietly guiding you.

Watch this video, in which Heidi Priebe, a certified integrative health coach, talks about knowing it’s time to leave a relationship but feeling too attached:

7. Am I being honest with myself?

Sometimes the hardest truths are the ones we avoid. Ask yourself if you’ve been minimizing pain, pretending things will change, or holding onto what you wish could be. Even when it hurts, absolute honesty is the first step to clarity.

• What you might not know: Denial can create the illusion of safety, but it also prolongs suffering. Facing your truth may hurt in the short term, but it opens the door to healing and freedom.

Choosing love, peace, and clarity

At the end of the day, no article, friend, or counselor can fully decide for you—only your heart and your lived experience can. The journey of figuring out when to get a divorce, or whether to keep trying, is never black and white.

It’s filled with moments of doubt, flashes of hope, and sometimes a quiet inner voice that knows more than we admit. Whatever choice you make, let it be one rooted in honesty, kindness, and the desire for peace.