8 Signs Of A Broken Marriage That Say It’s Time To Let Go

Not every broken marriage shatters with a loud crash; some just slowly fall apart in silence. You stop laughing together. You stop going out together. You stop hugging each other. You stop fighting for each other. These are just some signs of a broken marriage.

One day, you realize that the spark is gone, the chemistry is non-existent, and you are simply co-existing with one another, instead of living a life together.

The warning signs of a broken marriage isn’t always dramatic or in-your-face. Sometimes, it’s long silences, a haunting sadness, and a heavy heart that seems to feel heavier when you are around them.

If you’re constantly asking yourself how to know when to walk away from a marriage, these hard-to-swallow truths might be exactly what you need to hear.

Today we are going to talk about the signs your marriage is not working anymore; the signs that often slip under the radar – but say everything.

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8 Signs of a Broken Marriage That Hint It’s Time to Let Go

1. You feel like everyday is a fight waiting to happen.

The occasional argument and fight is very normal in every marriage. However, if small stuff like how to arrange the dishwasher or how to organize the books on the shelves lead to serious fights, then it’s a cause for concern.

When you constantly fight with one another, it emotionally drains you and slowly builds resentment. You’re constantly walking on eggshells in your own home. This much tension? It’s not normal, and it’s one of the first signs your marriage is not working.

2. You basically live as roommates now.

Sure, you live under the same roof, but that’s about it. There’s no emotional closeness, no intimacy, no “I missed you” after work. You talk logistics, not life. It feels more like managing a household than building a life together.

If you’re feeling disconnected and alone in your relationship, that’s one of the major signs of a broken marriage.

3. You feel happy and relieved when you are apart.

Do you find yourself breathing easier when your spouse is not around? Do you ever make excuses and stay late at work or hang out with your friends more than you stay at home?

Well, you know that sense of relief you feel when you are not around your spouse? It’s not a phase and it’s not in your mind. It’s one of the biggest giveaways that your marriage is causing you more pain than peace.

And if you live your life like this everyday, then you need pause, and think hard about when to walk away from a marriage.

4. You gave therapy a shot, but it didn’t change anything.

You gave it a shot. Couples counseling, self-help book, countless date nights, but nothing seems to work. One (or both) of you keeps showing up, but emotionally, you’re checked out.

If professional help isn’t helping and you’re still stuck in the same painful patterns, it may be time to accept that you’re not just hitting a rough patch, you’re in one of the clear signs your marriage is not working anymore.

5. You have given up, or maybe your spouse has given up.

You can never save a marriage if one of you gives up; it always takes two to tango. If one of you has stopped caring, or putting in the effort, be it emotionally, mentally, or physically, the foundation starts to crumble.

There’s no way you can rebuild something or make something stronger, if one partner has given up emotionally.

This sort of quiet quitting in a marriage if often one of the final warning signs of a broken marriage before it falls fully apart.

Related: 4 Stages Of Marriage: Why The Third One Is The Most Crucial

6. You can feel your mental health getting worse.

Your anxiety is up. You’re crying more. You feel low, numb, or constantly overwhelmed. When your relationship becomes a source of emotional distress instead of support, it starts affecting everything – your sleep, your focus, your self-worth.

A marriage that drains your mental health isn’t love, it’s plain and simple emotional erosion. If you’re asking yourself daily, “Is all of this worth it?”, then that’s a huge red flag about how to know when to walk away from a marriage.

7. You get cheated on repeatedly, and it starts to feel like the cycle will never end.

How to know when to walk away from a marriage? We’re not talking about that one betrayal that you or your partner regrets till date. We’re talking about repeated infidelity, secretive behavior, and zero resolution.

If cheating has become a regular thing in your marriage, and your partner keeps crossing the line without any sort of remorse, then that’s more than a mistake – it’s disrespect.

And honestly? It’s one of the biggest warning signs of a broken marriage.

8. You are dealing with abuse – physical or emotional, or both.

This isn’t up for debate. Abuse, whether it’s yelling, controlling behavior, manipulation, gaslighting, or physical violence is never okay. If you feel scared, unsafe, or silenced in your own home, please know: this is not love.

Abuse in any form is a non-negotiable sign that it’s time to leave. No one deserves to stay in a place that breaks them.

Can You Save A Broken Marriage?

Here are a few steps to help you navigate what comes next:

• Have an open and honest conversation: If it’s safe and there’s no risk to your health and security, then sit down and talk it out. No blaming, no name-calling, just the truth.

• Go to therapy, alone or together: Even if your partner won’t go, individual therapy can help you find clarity, and be more confident about your decisions.

• Practice journaling everyday: When you put your feelings on paper, it helps you to spot patterns and see what you might have been doing wrong.

• Make sure you have a strong support system: Rely on your close friends and family, and trust that they won’t judge your choices.

• Set emotional and physical boundaries: Guard your energy, especially if things get toxic or abusive.

• Consider a temporary separation: Sometimes, space can bring you a lot of clarity, and you will better understand if you miss them or you are better off without them.

• Don’t make major decisions when things are emotionally chaotic: Breathe. Reflect. Then decide from a place of peace and calm, not pain.

• Remember that it’s okay to choose yourself: Walking away doesn’t mean you failed, it means you’re choosing peace.

So… what now?

If you’re reading these signs of a broken marriage and thinking, “Hey, that’s me,” please don’t ignore your gut. These aren’t just mere problems or issues, they are warning signs of a broken marriage.

Related: 36 Things I’ve Learned From 36 Years Of Marriage

Knowing when to walk away from a marriage is hard, but staying in something that’s slowly destroying you is harder.

If you’ve been silently struggling and you are seeing signs your marriage is not working, then this is your reminder: you’re not asking for too much by wanting love, safety, and connection. Those are the basics.

If your marriage can’t give you that anymore, it might be time to ask: “What do I really want from life – and who do I want to be beside me for it?”

You’ve got this.

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