A divorce can be heart-wrenching, stressful and guilt-ridden even when your partner is a collaborative and reasonable person. If you are dealing with a divorcing spouse who is determined to make life as difficult as possible for you, the journey to divorce will likely be a difficult road.
While you can’t change your ex, you can find ways to navigate the situation by understanding their traits. The following are some of the most common traits of toxic partners.
They are controlling
Perhaps your ex is struggling to accept that the marriage is over. While this is understandable, it does not mean that they have the right to control you or limit your freedom.
If your ex is trying to look through your phone, acting jealous or wanting to know everything about your life, you should take action to set clear boundaries.
They show no empathy
When going through divorce proceedings, you will likely go through emotional periods and expect your ex to be able to relate to you on an emotional level.
If they do not change their behavior even though they see that they have hurt you, this could be a sign that they are lacking in empathy.
They are vindictive
While it is understandable for each spouse to try and get the best possible divorce outcome for themselves, it is less natural for them to set out to hurt the other. If you believe that your ex is doing things to get revenge or to spite you, you should take appropriate action to defend yourself.
The divorce process can be difficult and confusing, so you need to prepare yourself to advocate for yourself and process the emotions that come with ending your marriage.