You have probably heard of the seven-year itch. It’s the itch to end a marriage, which experts say tends to strike many couples right around the time that they’ve been married for seven years. Every case is different, of course, and it’s not an exact science, but it is a trend that shows up often.
Why does this happen? For some couples, that could just be the length of time it takes for the emotional side of the marriage to wear off. Marriage does take work. When they’re young and in love, couples may feel like it will be easy forever, but getting older and running into the work of marriage sometimes shows them that it’s not nearly the ideal relationship they thought it was.
On top of that, experts point to the birth of children. A couple may have one or two children by this point in the relationship, and that adds a new type of stress. It also means that the parents need to give their attention to the kids, rather than each other, so they can drift apart.
In some cases, people also start to ask deeper psychological questions about life. Once they have settled into a relationship for years, they may begin to wonder if they have already experienced everything life has for them. The idea that “this is it” can be depressing to some, who may decide they want to end their relationships and start over. They may also feel that their spouse is holding them back from what they want in life.
Those who do decide that it’s time for divorce must know what legal steps to take.
