“You’ve Chosen The Phone Over Your Family”: Man Divorces Wife After Her Phone Dependence Gets Out Of Hand

It’s an awful thing, watching your spouse develop a dependence on something, rocking the foundations of your relationship. Dependence also harms your loved ones, not just you. When you choose to spend all of your time on your phone, your loved ones feel neglected and sidelined. And in extreme cases, it can end your marriage and put your entire family in peril.

One incredibly frustrated man turned to the internet for advice after watching his wife’s excessive phone habits derail their family life. Things escalated very quickly after he’d finally had enough and drew a line in the sand. You’ll find the full story, including a very important update, below.

While phones are useful tools, if you become too dependent on them, they can have a very negative impact on your life

Woman holding a laptop and talking on a phone, illustrating phone dependence affecting family relationships.

Image credits: Anna Shvets/Pexels (not the actual photo)

A frustrated husband opened up online about how his wife’s chronic phone overuse got so bad that he had to start enforcing boundaries

Text post describing a man frustrated with his wife's phone dependence interfering with their family time.

Text describing a man sharing how his wife's phone dependence ruined their morning talks and affected their family life.

Woman distracted by phone at dinner while family eats, showing phone dependence affecting family time and relationships.

Man expresses frustration over wife's phone dependence causing strain on family time and relationship issues.

Text excerpt showing a woman prioritizing phone use over family plans, highlighting phone dependence issues.

Text excerpt showing a man expressing frustration over his wife's phone dependence affecting their family relationship.

Text showing a man upset over phone dependence, expressing frustration about plans being ignored due to excessive phone use.

Text about phone dependence causing relationship issues, highlighting man divorcing wife over phone a*******n and family impact.

Man looking distressed and holding his head, representing phone dependence affecting family relationships.

Image credits: Timur Weber/Pexels (not the actual photo)

Man waits for wife who is engrossed in her phone, showing signs of phone dependence over family time at home.

Man holding phone with a distressed expression, illustrating phone dependence affecting family relationships.

Text message showing a woman saying she's on the phone, highlighting phone dependence affecting relationships.

Text excerpt describing a man taking a phone from his wife, highlighting phone dependence affecting family relationships.

Text showing a man describing his wife’s phone dependence causing conflict and demanding control over her time.

Man expresses frustration over wife's phone dependence, choosing phone over family, leading to divorce and broken relationship.

Text showing a man's message about phone dependence causing a breakdown in family communication and relationship issues.

Man divorces wife after her phone dependence strains family relationships and causes conflict at home.

Image credits: FrustratedWithPhone

Later on, the man shared more context in a brutally honest comment

Comment criticizing phone dependence in a relationship, highlighting conflict and emotional frustration over phone use.

Text conversation showing frustration over phone dependence impacting family presence and relationships in a marriage dispute.

Text excerpt about phone dependence affecting family time, highlighting issues with phone use during family meals.

Text excerpt about a wife’s phone dependence causing marital strain and leading to divorce due to excessive phone use.

Text discussing a man addressing his wife's phone dependence, highlighting denial and feelings of isolation in their relationship.

Text showing a man asking his wife to ignore her phone call during an important talk, highlighting phone dependence issues.

Text excerpt about phone dependence causing family issues, highlighting man's frustration leading to divorce.

Internet users weighed in with their opinions and pieces of advice

Comment stating she sounds very annoying and someone to avoid spending time with, reflecting phone dependence issues.

Comment discussing frustration over phone dependence affecting family plans and control in relationships.

Text describing a man’s advice to write a letter showing how phone dependence is hurting the marriage and causing conflict.

Comment excerpt discussing phone dependence causing family conflict and leading to divorce over phone a*******n issues.

Text excerpt discussing phone dependence causing arguments and emphasizing communication to address the problem effectively.

Text about phone dependence affecting family time, emphasizing returning the phone and prioritizing quality family moments.

Text discussing neglect in relationships caused by phone dependence leading to family issues and potential divorce decisions.

Man divorces wife due to her excessive phone dependence affecting family and relationship dynamics.

Reddit comment discussing wife's phone dependence and its impact on marriage and family relationships.

Comment suggesting to return the phone with divorce papers, highlighting phone dependence leading to divorce dispute.

Screenshot of an online comment discussing phone dependence impacting family communication.

Man expresses frustration over phone dependence causing distance in marriage and leading to divorce discussions.

Advice from a divorce attorney on handling phone dependence and improving communication to save a marriage.

Comment advising a man to prioritize family over phone dependence and consider legal options like divorce.

Comment advising a final conversation with phone-dependent wife, highlighting phone dependence affecting family and suggesting therapy or no-phone rules.

Alt text: Man divorcing wife due to her phone dependence affecting family and personal relationships.

Text excerpt emphasizing phone dependence causing family issues, urging to prioritize family over phone use to avoid separation.

Screenshot of a social media comment discussing the issue of phone dependence affecting family relationships.

Comment discussing a man's choice to divorce due to his wife's phone dependence affecting their family life.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing frustration over phone dependence affecting family relationships.

Screenshot of an online comment discussing phone dependence affecting family relationships and causing divorce issues.

Phone dependence, if left untreated, can ruin your physical, mental, and emotional well-being

Woman looking intently at her phone in a dim room, illustrating phone dependence affecting family relationships.

Image credits: mikoto.raw Photographer/Pexels (not the actual photo)

When you spend all of your time on your phone, talking to and texting with other people, at the expense of your spouse and children, you’re sending them a very clear message. Namely, that they’re not as important or worthy of your time.

That’s not to imply that you can’t have a phone or communicate with anyone outside of your family (that would be ridiculous), but you have to prioritize your time appropriately. Yes, smartphones are incredibly useful tools, but your partner and kids want your attention.

They don’t want to be sidelined, neglected, or feel like you don’t love them. They don’t want to feel like they’re less important than whoever you’re gossiping with every day.

Individuals who are dependent on their smartphones can experience anxiety, agitation, and disorientation if they’re unable to use them. To be clear, smartphones are intentionally designed to be as engaging as possible and difficult to put down. That’s on top of all the apps, social media, games, etc. that do the same.

Chronic phone overuse and dependence can have negative effects on your physical, mental, and emotional health, including:

• Poor sleep
• Worse concentration
• Anxiety
• Reduced cognition
• Aggravated Attention Deficit Disorder
• Stress
• Loneliness
• Insecurity
• Worse creativity
• Impaired relationships
• Poor grades and performance at work

There’s a fine line between healthy and unhealthy phone use, and it takes courage to admit that you may have a problem and need to change your habits

Woman in dark room focused on phone screen, illustrating phone dependence affecting family relationships.

Image credits: SHVETS production/Pexels (not the actual photo)

Furthermore, chronic phone overuse has been linked to chemical imbalances in the brain, affecting the production of neurotransmitters like gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and decreasing grey matter volume in critical areas.

Someone who is chronically overusing their phone might neglect their duties at work, school, or home, spend more and more time on their phone, lie about their phone use, and have loved ones express concern about their behavior.

A person who is overly dependent on their phone may also repeatedly check people’s social media profiles due to anxiety, have a weak or non-existent social life, feel isolated from their loved ones, and get angry or irritated when their phone time is interrupted.

They might also get up at night to check their phone, reach for their phone the moment they are alone or bored, think their phone might be vibrating when it isn’t, and crave access to their phone when their use is limited.

In cases of extreme phone overuse, it’s best to reach out to a mental health specialist for support. Preferably, one with a background in dealing with dependence.

Once you’ve read through the entire story, we’d like to hear your thoughts and opinions in the comments at the bottom of the post, Pandas.

Would you have done anything differently if you were in the man’s shoes? Have you ever struggled with a dependence, and how did that affect your family life? What advice would you give anyone whose significant other seems completely fixated on their phone, at the expense of everything and everyone else? How do you enforce healthy boundaries in your relationships?

A year later, the husband shared an update about his spouse and marriage, and the devastating step he took to protect his family

Close-up of a person holding a smartphone, highlighting phone dependence over family relationships.

Image credits: Karola G/Pexels (not the actual photo)

Text message update on phone dependence causing family issues and divorce, highlighting personal relationship struggles.

Text passage about a man giving his wife her phone back, highlighting phone dependence over family time.

Woman grabbing phone back defiantly during argument, highlighting phone dependence causing family conflict and divorce issues.

Text excerpt showing a man describing his wife's phone dependence causing family neglect and communication breakdown.

Woman distracted by phone at family event, illustrating phone dependence affecting relationships and leading to divorce.

Woman ignoring family moment by answering phone call, highlighting phone dependence causing family relationship issues.

Woman leaning against building distracted by phone, highlighting phone dependence affecting family relationships.

Text excerpt showing a man accusing his wife of choosing phone dependence over family by lying about an important call.

Couple having a serious argument indoors illustrating phone dependence affecting family relationships.

Image credits: RDNE Stock project/Pexels (not the actual photo)

Text excerpt showing a man explaining his wife’s phone dependence led to divorce, highlighting relationship struggles.

Text on white background saying a person asked, what the hell is that supposed to mean in black font.

Text on a white background stating a man confronting his wife about choosing the phone over family, highlighting phone dependence issues.

Text on a screen describing a man meeting with an attorney to begin filing for divorce due to phone dependence impacting family.

Text highlighting a wife’s negative reaction after being served divorce papers due to her phone dependence affecting family.

Text excerpt discussing a man refusing to leave the house amid family and mortgage responsibilities after a phone-related divorce conflict.

Text excerpt about wife leaving due to phone dependence, affecting family and causing divorce discussions.

Woman looking distressed at home, illustrating phone dependence affecting family relationships and causing marital issues.

Image credits: Alex Green/Pexels (not the actual photo)

Man divorces wife after her phone dependence causes family issues and strains their relationship.

Text from a legal document discussing a man divorcing his wife due to her phone dependence affecting their family.

Text excerpt from a divorce case highlighting phone dependence affecting family trust and financial decisions.

Text excerpt discussing a father’s perspective on his wife’s phone dependence affecting family relationships and visits.

Man divorces wife due to her excessive phone dependence, highlighting impact of phone a*******n on family relationships.

Text excerpt about phone dependence in a family conflict, highlighting frustration over excessive phone use.

Text excerpt highlighting a wife's phone dependence contributing to marital issues and divorce over family neglect.

Silhouette of a woman standing by a window, symbolizing phone dependence affecting family relationships.

Image credits: Bas Masseus/Pexels (not the actual photo)

Man divorces wife due to her excessive phone dependence, prioritizing phone over family and marital relationship issues.

Man divorces wife due to her phone dependence affecting family life and causing marital breakup.

Alt text: Man divorces wife after her phone dependence strains family relationships and priorities.

Image credits: FrustratedWithPhone

Here’s how the internet reacted when they read the dramatic follow-up to the story

Screenshot of a social media comment about phone dependence affecting family relationships and causing divorce concerns.

Comment expressing strong frustration with phone dependence affecting personal relationships and family time.

Reddit conversation screenshot discussing phone dependence and its impact on family relationships in a casual online thread.

Comment on Reddit expressing disbelief over a woman missing her daughter's graduation due to phone dependence causing family issues.

Screenshot of a social media comment about phone dependence causing relationship struggles and lack of family presence.

Man divorcing wife due to her excessive phone dependence, highlighting family and relationship struggles over phone use.

Screenshot of an online discussion about phone dependence affecting family relationships and causing divorce concerns.

Man divorces wife due to her excessive phone dependence affecting family relationships and communication.

Comment highlighting a woman’s phone dependence affecting family life and marriage dynamics in an online discussion.

Reddit comment reacting to a man divorcing his wife due to her phone dependence affecting family priorities.

Text post reading I'll never understand why some people have multiple kids just to ignore them, highlighting phone dependence impact.

Comment discussing phone dependence affecting family relationships and its impact on personal life decisions.

Screenshot of an online comment discussing phone dependence causing relationship issues and leading to divorce.

Screenshot of a user comment describing phone dependence causing family issues and significant relationship problems.

Comment describing a grandmother’s excessive phone dependence causing family issues and frustration over constant calls.

Comment describing phone dependence causing family issues, highlighting emotional distance due to phone a*******n.

Text excerpt showing a man’s feelings of insignificance due to wife’s phone dependence during important moments.

Reddit comment discussing phone dependence causing family issues and divorce due to prioritizing phone over family relationships.

Poll Question

Total votes ·

Thanks! Check out the results:

Total votes ·

Newsletter

Subscribe to Access
Exclusive Polls

Subscribe

By entering your email and clicking Subscribe, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Privacy Policy.

Thank you! You've successfully subscribed to newsletters!

Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing!

Follow Bored Panda on Google News!

Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda!