How Does Divorce Impact Mental Health?

Protect Your Mental Health At All Costs

Managing your mental health while going through a divorce can be challenging. Working through the legal process, dealing with family and friends, and managing emotions can make an already difficult time even more stressful. Taking care of yourself during this period is essential. While it may feel selfish, it is in reality the best thing you can do for those who love and depend upon you. In this blog, we will explore how divorce impacts mental well-being and investigate tips on how best to maintain positive mental health throughout the process.

Exploring the Emotions of Divorce

Going through a divorce can be a challenging experience that may bring to the forefront a range of uncomfortable emotions. It is perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed, scared, and even angry during the process, especially considering that you (and perhaps your family) are transitioning to a new stage of life. Not surprisingly, the stress and emotional strain of this adjustment can considerably affect your mental health and therefore, it is vital to take extra steps to maintain your well-being.

Taking time for yourself, getting support from friends and family, and speaking with a professional therapist or counselor are all things that you can do to help address difficult emotions associated with terminating a marriage. Knowing that you have the support that you need to navigate this period of your life can be incredibly comforting and beneficial for your overall wellbeing.

The Physical Effects of Divorce

Navigating through a divorce is hard enough without worrying about the physical effects it can have on our health. Many physical symptoms are similar to those associated with grief, such as fatigue, changes in appetite, and difficulty sleeping. It is essential to recognize when you start feeling overwhelmed, so that you can manage the cause of the symptoms before it escalates. Practicing healthy habits such as exercise, taking breaks, and getting adequate rest are simple ways to help manage difficult emotions during stressful times. Connecting with supportive friends and family can also provide comfort and guidance when facing these unique challenges.

Coping With Grief and Loss

In addition to dealing with the fallout of divorce, people may also experience an intense sense of grief or loss. While grief is burdensome at any time, it can be even more grueling when experienced in the midst of a complex situation (such as litigation which requires your active participation and involvement). Accepting your feelings around this layer of grief can help create clarity. Often, making feelings tangible can enable an individual to process them more constructively.

Finding Support From Friends and Family

During a divorce, friends and family members can provide an essential layer of support to help see you through. Sometimes your loved ones will already know what you are going through, but even if they don't, they can still offer love and understanding, which is critical. Reaching out to your social circle could be vital in finding solace. After all, who can provide better insight into the mental and emotional aspects of the process than the family or friends who know you best. While it is perfectly reasonable in different cases for both parties to endeavor for less communication and closure, seeking out the love, care, and compassion from those around you can provide a new perspective to make all the difference.

Practicing Self-Care

During a complex process like divorce, it is easy to forget about the importance of self-care. To ensure that you remain in the right mindset, you should prioritize setting aside dedicated time to practice beneficial self-care techniques such as deep breathing, yoga, and meditation.

As much as possible, it's important to focus on these activities rather than distractedly scrolling through social media or watching television. Taking part in activities that engage us more fully and allow us to tune into our feelings can provide more meaningful rest. Self-care can also help reduce our stress levels while keeping us focused and centered during any challenging time.

Seeking Professional Help

Going through a divorce can be a taxing process which can take a serious toll on your mental well-being. During this time, it's important to ensure you are taking adequate care of yourself. If the mental strain of divorce is becoming too much, then seeking professional help for counseling or therapy could be one of the best decisions to make.

With the right system of support to offer insight and guidance, professional counseling services can provide the channels to process your emotions, thoughts, and feelings in a healthy way that helps you not only process the divorce, but also to move forward with resilience.

Get Help From a Divorce Attorney

Divorce is an emotionally draining process. Despite the adverse effects it can have on your mental health, there are steps you can take to cope with the emotions that come along for the ride. It's essential to take care of yourself by acknowledging your feelings, seeking support from others, and practicing relaxation techniques. Additionally, remember to reach out for professional help if needed. Taking these measures while navigating the divorce process will give you a stronger foundation and more peace of mind despite all its difficulty.

If you'd like more assistance coping with divorce, the team at Laubacher & Co. is here to help. We care and can navigate you through a divorce to find your best path forward. For some individuals, a conversation with counsel regarding the process of divorce and the expectations that come with that process can allow for parties to properly set their expectations and seek help accordingly.

Learn more about how we can help or schedule a consultation by calling visiting our website.