Ride the Storm: Navigating Through Unstable Periods / Katerina Rudko (Belka G...
Dealing with the emotions of divorce
1. Dealing with the Emotions of Divorce
Every divorce brings about change and with
change comes a plethora of emotions. From one
day to the next, you may feel glad that you’re
moving on or you may feel regret that perhaps
you may have not made the right decision.
Divorce brings about a range of emotions and
highs and lows. One thing you can be relieved of:
it’s normal and being able to deal with the
emotions of divorce will help you move on with
your life.
It is okay to allow yourself time to grieve over
the failure of your marriage and truly accept
what just happened. Living in denial and not
allowing yourself time to cope will just harbor,
delay, and intensify future emotional
letdown. Don’t try to convince yourself that
you’re fine. Let yourself feel your emotions and know that it is okay to cry or feel
anger and regret. The best approach is to acknowledge that you attempted marriage
and it wasn’t meant to be, and this is an opportunity to move forward.
How to Move On
There are many ways to channel these sad feelings and negative thoughts. Spending
time doing activities, sports, hobbies, and other things you enjoy, allows you to work
through your emotions by giving your emotions a positive outlet. This may be a
good time to find new hobbies, sports, or activities to pursue. Stay away from things
that tend to bring you down and enumerate negative feelings and thoughts.
To help cope with the array of emotions you experience after divorce, consider
seeking a professional counselor or support group. Seeking professional counseling
and support groups, including family and friends, provide a sounding board or
shoulder to cry on, which also allows you to sort through your emotions. For most
people, this provides validation, which is therapeutic in its own way.
You need to trust yourself and be patient. Trust yourself that you can handle
anything that comes your way. You cannot let fear of what might happen rule you
and every decision that you make. Be patient and know that the pain does not go
away quickly. Allow yourself time, however long it may be, to cope and never
compare yourself to others.
2. Find What’s Best for You
Every individual’s needs are different and you need to take care of yourself and
consider all of your options to help you personally in dealing with the emotions of
divorce. For some, attending a support group is the best thing, for others it may be
professional counseling, and yet for others who have tried everything and nothing
seems to help, because of a challenging former spouse, it may be time to consider
another option. Often times the solution may only be found through an excellent
divorce lawyer.
Divorce causes many obstacles, the
strain of which can affect you
emotionally, physically, mentally,
and financially. Professional
counselors, friends, relatives, and
support groups are some of the
resources that can assist you in
moving forward. A Tacoma divorce
lawyer can also provide the help you
need to move on in your life.
Photo Credit: Wee Lakeo, http://localtalk.mynewplace.com/wpcontent/uploads/2011/10/counseling-session.jpg