Divorce lawyer says the one major indicator a marriage is going to end is quite common among couples

Sustaining a relationship and marriage requires efforts from both partners. They must have love and respect for one another, apart from great communication. However, many marital unions collapse due to factors that might not seem significant initially. Renowned divorce lawyer James Sexton made an appearance on a podcast episode of "The Diary of a CEO," hosted by British entrepreneur and investor Steven Bartlett, and shared his thoughts on divorce.

He urged people to look for certain indicators in a marriage that might give them a clue if their relationship is coming to an end. Several clips from the 2-hour-long podcast have gone viral on social media platforms. In one of the clips, which garnered 800,000 views on Bartlett's Instagram account (@thediaryofaceopodcast), Sexton highlighted how a particular habit of either partner in a marriage indicates that the relationship is about to break apart. "If one or both people are big drinkers or drug users, that's usually a good indication that the marriage is going to lead to divorce," Sexton said.

"I am very fixated on pattern recognition," Sexton continued. The lawyer said that there are other factors too that could end a marriage, such as religious differences between couples, the age gap in relationships or racial differences. However, he had deduced that nothing quite compares to the destruction that substance abuse brings to a marriage. "I think substance is probably the main thing," Sexton revealed. People in the comment section agreed with Sexton and shared their personal experiences, as well.

@lloydvest wrote, "This guy drops the most insightful one-liners I’ve ever heard. It is clear to see why he is a successful lawyer. I love his interviews with you. My favorite is the part about how everything is on loan to us. That hit hard." @marisafmarch shared, "Both my husband and I were committed 100% to our own recovery and supported each other. We had a fantastic marriage. Now widowed, I won't even date a drinker, smoker or drug user." @malu808_ mentioned, "This is the most informative discussion on marriage and divorce, ever." @lesliegustafson1 added, "When substances are heavily used, it is a deep pattern of leaning away from real intimacy. A deep bond is a prerequisite for long-term marital success. Not to mention all the negative consequences of drinking that impair self, self-connection and the capacity to do relationships."

In another Instagram clip from the same interview that garnered over 1 million views, Sexton shared his views on how having children can affect a marriage negatively in some cases. "If you make your children your absolute number one priority and your spouse falls very far down that list," Sexton explained. "I think people who are obsessed with their children, stop paying attention to themselves and their partner. I don't mean people who are focused on their children. I mean people who make their children a high priority in their life."

He stressed that an individual's personality should not revolve around being a parent because childhood is a temporary state and their little kids would eventually grow up. In the future, the kids would become adults and eventually move away to start their own families. But a person's spouse is supposed to stay by their side longer than their children, which is why an individual needs to pay attention to their spouse as much as their kids.