Divorce: is it worth it?

it depends on the situation. If your just bored and want something different or if you just disagree on certain things than I would think not but if your marriage has some pretty serious issues then divorce may be the better option for you both.

God yes it was worth it.

He emotionally and verbally abused me every day for almost 2 years. Got the hell out of there.

Hopefully my second marriage will be happy and sticks for life.

I'm happier, a lot less stress and tension and so forth. However I think this is something you shouldn't be basing on others experiences. This is not something that is a black and white area. You need to figure this out with your spouse. Good luck

The thing about divorce is that you without that other person is STILL YOU.
If they are abusive, hateful worthless people- you are probably better off. If they are decent people, you are probably better off where you are. I have had MANY friends divorce decent people and live to regret it. I don't know of anyone who was actually better off. Many lost their children's trust, friends respect, the list goes on and on. Some of my friends kids even chose the other parent eventually and then they lost the joy of raising their own kids.
Figure out why you think divorce is a good idea first. If it has anything to do with YOU - and not the other person - then work on you and don't get divorced. If it is the other person - they are mean, abusive, hateful, then consider it as an option.

ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT!!!

The grass will never be greener on the other side,
the grass is greener wherever you choose to water it!

Life is simply brilliant and euphoric now that my boat doesn't have an anchor of drama and selfishness.

I am stealing this, it is the best quote of the day.

Yes. Probably the best decision I ever made.

I was separated for a long time, so though I was legally separated for a 3 year span -- the divorce took forever. I did marry about 6 months after my divorce was finalized. Many people think I moved on too soon but what they don't realize is I was separated for a long time. The bad part? The shared custody. I live in Washington state and he lives in Pennsylvania. I only get my sons in the summer (and holidays if I can afford to fly them out here -- they're still very young 7, 6, and 4 so they can't fly alone) though we share 50/50 custody. One day I pray they'll live with me year round, and his dad will just get summers but it's the only downside with our unique situation.

Life is simply brilliant and euphoric now that my boat doesn't have an anchor of drama and selfishness.

I am stealing this, it is the best quote of the day.

Also stealing this. :P

Depends. For some I can not see any other option for others they would be better off growing up and working things out. My parents are divorced and it was great for them. They were able to raise us as friends rather than at each others throats. For others it is an excuse not to see the negative in themselves and make some changes. My husband and i have had to adapt to each other's habits and flaws. I think it has made us better people as a result. Do we hit rock bottom from time to time. OH yeah, but it is about readjusting just how far you let rock bottom go. You can not call one another names constantly and degrade each other. If you can't communicate in a sane healthy way, then yes you are better off divorced.

I am glad to hear everyone saying this. I am going thru the divorce process right now and will be a single mother with two kids (8 and 6). My husband has some mental health issues. I can say that our household is calmer without him in it. He has been gone for eight months and even without him contributing anything to the household I still find myself much less stressed out. I am not sure if I will be happier in the end or not. I am not sure if the divorce will be worth it in the end or not. I have no idea how things will wash out yet because in our state we have to be separated for a year before we can push the divorce to court. (...and he is going to get his *kitten* handed to him.) I find I miss the good times when he comes down to see the kids. When he visits I also think of all the pain in the marriage. He is on medication now and seeking counseling so it appears he is doing much better, but that's not what I lived with. Part of me is happy the kids get to know their father sane and happy and the other part makes me angry that what we lived with was such hell. I am thinking that for me it will take some time to know if it was worth it or not. I do know I am no longer tied to his rants and scary behaviors. I know longer have to wait for him to make a choice for me to make a decision about my life. Since he was a VERY slow decision maker it would put stress on the marriage if something which needed a quick decision came up. Hoping to see more posts about what a good choice it was, but right now I am just wishing the whole thing was over because a divorce is a very emotional and stressful thing for everyone involved. Watching the kids deal with it and helping them cope has been the hardest part of it all.

IME, grass is never greener, it's just different grass.

So it comes down to your ability to be happy given the situation. I'm happier on my own than I am with someone who sucks the life out of me. Not everyone is.

Part of me can't help but think that if you have to ask this question, your marriage isn't that bad.

Yes yes yes, this!

If you're unsure, then don't do it. Work on it and do your best to try to fix it! Religion and marriage vows aside, the financial and emotional repercussions are not for the faint at heart!

I'm pretty sure there isn't anyone who has ever made the decision to get divorced that has ever regretted it.

I'm pretty sure anyone who was forced to get a divorce is happy to be free of the legal bondage to someone who doesn't love them.

I agree with the second sentence. Never been divorced, but been through plenty of break-ups where I was sad at first, only to realize later that I was better off without.

Absent some sort of real abuse that you need to get away from, no one can answer this question for anyone else.

If you think of life time commitments in terms of where the grass might be greener, perhaps marriage isn't for you. It's a sure bet that at one time or another in a marriage, the grass on your side of the fence is gonna get downright brown.

Asking divorcees if their divorce was worth it is akin to asking drunks in a bar if the alcohol tastes good... Or asking people in happy marriages if keeping their marriage together is worth it.

Equally stupid questions all around.