If you have been married to your spouse for decades, divorce is still possible. Those who are over the age of 50 are more likely to divorce than before, says Psychology Today.
When it comes to older divorce or gray divorce, there are a few factors to think about.
Unbearable stress
Some people think that gray divorce might not be worth it. They think that if you work so hard over decades together, then you should make it work. Unfortunately, many gray divorce couples, they have already experienced unbearable stress.
If you suffer from chronic stress, it can begin to affect your physical health. You may feel miserable and unhealthy more often than not. Gray divorce can alleviate that stress.
Difficult marital past
Many people believe that gray divorce comes from a life transition. After all, in your older years, you enter a new phase of your life. Your children move out from your home, enter retirement and have a completely different life ahead of you. While this could because of divorce, for older adults, it is not generally the reason.
Most people divorce because of their marital past. If you have more remarriages, then you have a higher likelihood of divorcing. Besides, many couples began growing apart for years. For example, one partner may begin dreading coming home years before the split happens. It may be easier to stay together when the whole family is together, but once the children move out, there is nothing to hold the couple together.
If there is resentment or unresolved issues, there is a higher likelihood of gray divorce.