16 People Open Up About Why They Stay In Relationships Even When They’re Unhappy
"I know what I’m getting when I’m with him and I’ve accepted it. I might not be really happy, but is anyone?”
By 
Becca Martin
1. “At this point I’m just scared to live without him or realize I made a mistake. I’ve done everything with him for so long it’s hard to imagine not having him by my side. Even though we rarely have good times together and the spark died out a while ago, he’s my comfort and that’s why I stay.” – Alyssa, 30
2. “I really don’t want to have to pick my life up and start over again. We’ve been together for so long that I now just am used to it and our life. Starting over would be hard and I really don’t think I’d want to put either of us through that.” – Matt, 32
3. “It’s easier said than done to leave. I still love her, but I’m not in love with her. We had a complicated history and I just don’t think I could handle breaking her heart, or wind up finding out I broke my own heart by leaving.” – Wes, 26
4. “I’ve already been with him for so long I just don’t think it’s worth it anymore to leave. We’ve built a life together, have kids, I know what I’m getting when I’m with him and I’ve accepted it. I might not be really happy, but is anyone?” – Jane, 34
5. “I really just don’t want to be lonely. I know that I do feel like I’m trapped in an empty relationship, but I still have someone to wake up next to every morning. We might not agree on everything, but he’s still there for the most part and I think I’d miss him if I left.” – Leah, 25
6. “I stay because if I didn’t I don’t know what I’d do with myself. Everything is in his name, including our house and credit cards. I don’t know the first thing I’d do if I left because I’ve been dependent on him for so long. If I started over, I’d be starting from nothing and that’s a scary thought.” – Maria, 40
7. “I couldn’t leave because I’d feel too guilty. I’d feel so bad for breaking her heart, but I know our relationship hit it’s high and now it’s back down lower than we ever thought was possible. I stay because I’m scared to leave her, I just don’t think it’s worth it.” – Charlie, 28
8. “We started off so happy in the beginning of our relationship, just like everyone else. I guess I’m just holding on because I’m hoping that we can get back to the way things used to be. Those were the best days of my life.” – Cam, 29
9. “It’s too hard to leave, I’ve been thinking about it for almost a year now and I still haven’t left. It’s just so hard to accept that someone who has been there for all the big parts of your life just won’t be there anymore. I’m unhappy and hate the way he treats me, but I still love him at the same time. I don’t really know how to explain it and I don’t understand it.” – Madison, 27
10. “I just don’t think I could do that to my kids. I don’t think I’m strong enough to get a divorce and actually leave, so I don’t. I’ll stay together for the kids. I don’t want them growing up in a broken home.” – Jamie, 36
11. “Financial stability is probably the reason I stay. I don’t know what I’d do without my husband. He keeps track of everything, I can’t tell you the last time I worried about money on my own. And if I left I’d have to find a much better job to support myself.” – Tracey, 31
12. “I stay because I’m scared if I left that he might try to hurt me. He hasn’t really abused me before, but he does worry me from time to time and I think if I left that would be the trigger.” – Ana, 27
13. “I’m scared I will realize I made a huge mistake if I leave. It will be like one of those ‘you don’t realize what you had until it’s gone’ kind of things. I think I take him for granted now, but maybe I’m just asking for too much.” – Brooke, 26
14. “I don’t think I could find someone else to love me. He was my first real boyfriend and it took me long enough to find him, so I’m not sure that anyone else could love me and then I’d really end up alone.” – Bridgette, 29
15. “She’s familiar. She can be a bitch, but I know when to expect it usually. I’ve mastered her reactions and now it’s just listening to her rant and knowing what not to say. I don’t want to leave because I don’t want to start over learning someone new.” – Mikey, 27
16. “We’ve got a schedule and a groove, we might not be the happiest couple, but we know what works for us. I pick the kids up from practice and she cooks dinner, we’ve got a routine so we just kind of go through it every day and it is what it is.” – Martin, 36 