With the exception of couples who completely agree not only that they should get divorced but also on every aspect of their divorce, most people struggle with divorce and the changes it brings. However, some divorces are distinctly more difficult than others. Contested divorces involving high net worth individuals, allegations of spousal or child abuse, or accusations of infidelity tend to see a lot of anger and conflict between couples. These divorces can take longer and be more challenging to resolve.
Even without any of these issues, however, there is one particular personality characteristic that tends to make divorce extremely difficult: Narcissism. People who are married to narcissists often delay divorce long after the relationship has soured simply because they know triggering such a huge fight will only make things worse. Nevertheless, narcissism, in combination with other personality traits, can make staying married pretty miserable, and – especially if the narcissism is accompanied by abuse or neglect – staying married can be much worse in the long run.