The end of a marriage is sad, no matter which way you slice it. Two people who tried to make a commitment for life have decided that the best move for everyone is to separate and move forward. Even though that is often the best decision for both the adults and the children involved, that doesn’t make it any easier.

“People are often under the misconception that if their relationship is really ‘right,’ it should not feel difficult or challenging,” says Elizabeth Sullivan, a marriage and family therapist based in San Francisco. “This is not true. Difficult feelings or a period of stuckness do not mean the marriage is over.”

More from CafeMom: 8 Women Who Stayed Married After Infidelity

Anyone who has been married for any amount of time knows that there are good days and bad days. Eventually, there are good years and bad years.

But when can we be sure that our relationship is really and truly beyond saving? How do we know when to cut our losses and call our lawyers? As much as it sucks, it’s good for folks to really think about it once they feel like they might be getting to that place. Here are 10 signs a marriage is really over.

The end of a marriage is sad, no matter which way you slice it. Two people who tried to make a commitment for life have decided that the best move for everyone is to separate and move forward. Even though that is often the best decision for both the adults and the children involved, that doesn’t make it any easier.

“People are often under the misconception that if their relationship is really ‘right,’ it should not feel difficult or challenging,” says Elizabeth Sullivan, a marriage and family therapist based in San Francisco. “This is not true. Difficult feelings or a period of stuckness do not mean the marriage is over.”

More from CafeMom: 8 Women Who Stayed Married After Infidelity

Anyone who has been married for any amount of time knows that there are good days and bad days. Eventually, there are good years and bad years.

But when can we be sure that our relationship is really and truly beyond saving? How do we know when to cut our losses and call our lawyers? As much as it sucks, it’s good for folks to really think about it once they feel like they might be getting to that place. Here are 10 signs a marriage is really over.