Financial troubles are affecting marriages, say couples

MARRIAGE COUNSELLING SERVICE Accord has seen an 11 per cent increase in clients this year and saw a 10 per cent rise in people seeking its services in 2010.

The Catholic marriage care service released details today on the reasons why people seek its services.

It revealed that there were 4,000 people who became clients in the first six months of 2011 – and two thirds of them blamed financial concerns for part of the reason.

The clients said that these financial worries led to anxiety, sleep deprivation and alcohol abuse.

Overall, 52 per cent of clients reported feeling depressed and 83 per cent described themselves as stressed.

Speaking about the figures, Jane Ferguson, co-director of counselling at Accord, told The Irish Examiner that one in three clients said they experienced emotional abuse in their marriage.

She also noted that redundancy or the threat of losing a job can lead to emotions such as anger and resentment.

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