If you have a close friend or relative that is going through a divorce, you may start to notice it has you questioning your own marriage. There have been studies that indicate an individual has a 75% higher chance of going through a divorce when a friend has gone through the process. However, a study doesn’t necessarily represent society as a whole, so there is room to question the validity of the results.

So, why would divorce be contagious? We all know that even the happiest of marriages require hard work. Thus, if a friend starts talking to you about his or her frustrations, it can put a magnifying glass on your own situation. If you are looking for the bad, you most likely are going to find it because no partner is perfect.

Additionally, most people are intimidated by the divorce process, which serves as a deterrent to them considering it. Divorce is expensive, highly emotional, time-consuming and even embarrassing for some people. However, when a loved one is going through the process and makes it seem manageable, it can remove the intimidating factor as it did before.

Finally, it is easy to become envious of a friend’s newly single lifestyle. Life as a bachelor can be exciting, so it is normal to feel jealous of the freedoms he has and how he can spend his time. It is important to remember that a few moments of jealousy are not worth throwing away a happy or mostly-happy marriage. This is especially true when you consider the hard times you friend is going through that he is not discussing. He is facing expenses, lawyers, not spending as much time with his children and other stresses. Even if your friend or relative is much happier being out of an unhappy marriage, nobody enjoys the divorce process.

If you are considering divorce, it is important not to allow another couple’s unhappiness to impact your emotions or actions. However, if you believe ending your marriage is the healthiest option for your family, let us help. Contact the Men’s Divorce Law Firm to schedule a consultation with a caring professional, and aggressive advocate for men’s rights in divorce, child timesharing (custody), and paternity matters.