Why do people divorce?  Susan Pease Gadoua, LCSW, writes at psychologytoday.com that certain life events can cause people to decide to get a divorce.  She calls these pivotal events because they are life altering and cause people to make other changes in their lives.

Examples of pivotal events are a heart attack, parent dying, job loss and a car accident.  “Pivotal events cause people to question whether they are living their best life,” says Gadoua.  “Pivotal events often cause people to question what they really want and whether they are living their life to the fullest. People begin to scrutinize themselves, their job, spouse, home and friends. If any of these areas was lacking something or was in question prior to the event, it is very likely to receive a major overhaul.”

If you have a pivotal event in your life, Gadoua suggests that you:

• Do not make any other major life decisions in the next 90 days.
• Consider the impact of the event on others in your life.
• Seek another opinion from a friend or professional before you act.