Undoubtedly, you expected to have some rough times in your marriage. Even the most solid relationships suffer through difficult patches, and those troubled times can either strengthen or damage the bond that a couple shares.
If you knew going into the marriage that your partner suffered from bipolar disorder or another mental illness, you may have anticipated having to work through some issues. However, you may now be wondering exactly how much you must endure before calling it quits and opting for the relative JOY OF DIVORCE.
What are your limits?
Marriage to a partner with an uncontrolled mental illness can be lonely and overwhelming. You may be the one who takes responsibility for much of the family matters, including managing the finances, raising the children and perhaps even supplying most of the income. For years or maybe even decades, you have worked patiently through your spouse’s setbacks and crises, but you may be growing wearier and more resentful as time passes.
Nevertheless, how do you know when “enough is enough” and it is time to walk away from your marriage? Some mental health advocates offer the following as common reasons for seeking legal advice about your options for ending your marriage:
- Your spouse is physically or psychologically abusive to you or your children.
- Your spouse is unfaithful, placing you at risk of disease as well as emotional trauma.
- Your spouse has eroded your trust by telling too many lies.
Whether your spouse has damaged your faith with one big lie or a series of small fabrications, you may be exhausted from the games and the constant mistrust of an untrustworthy marital partner.
Mental illness and addiction
Addiction complicates mental illness because of its own status as a disease. You may find yourself in the role of a parent more than a spouse, even if your partner is in recovery. It is common for a spouse with an addiction to keep a family in a constant state of crisis, and you may find yourself putting out financial and personal fires more and more often.
Even if your reasons for considering divorce from your mentally ill spouse are not listed above, you would do well to speak with an experienced Board-Certified Family Law expert attorney in Collin County, Dallas County or Denton County, or elsewhere throughout Texas, both for your personal and your legal questions and alternative options. It is possible that your spouse may not react reasonably if you decide to go through with divorce, and you want to ensure your rights are protected.