What To Do When Your Good Friend’s Marriage Is On The Rocks

Gettyimages.com/Shot of a mature woman looking upset with her husband in the background

You’re with your friend through so many phases of her love life. From that first crush, to that middle school boyfriend she held hands with, to that high school boyfriend she lost her virginity to, to that college boyfriend who gave her that first major heartbreak, and on through the slew of adult relationships she had before finally finding the man she’d marry. Maybe you two found your forever-mates around the same time, and grew together as couple friends. Perhaps you were a bridesmaid or even the maid of honor in her wedding. The point is that, you’ve invested in her marriage. You’ve seen it grow and, for the most part, you’ve felt it was a good one. If you have a good group of nearly life-long friends, you’ll also be around to see some of their marriages struggle. You’ll want to help. Here is how to help when your friend’s marriage is on the rocks.

Gettyimages.com/A young woman is serious as she holds a pair of eyeglasses and sits on a living room couch with an unrecognizable friend. She is asking her advice on a matter of concern.

Don’t tell her to be in or out

Whatever you think she should do—fix the marriage or join the divorce statistics—you can’t tell her, flat out. You may think her marriage is over and that she should give up, but if you say so, and she stays, she’ll feel you disapprove.