Getting divorced is one of the 43 most stressful life events (consequently, falling in love and getting married is also on that list). If you are currently going through a divorce, you probably know this all too well.
Stress can impact your physical and mental health, so if you are working through a divorce, you’ll want to manage your stress. Coping with divorce isn’t always easy, but our guide will help get you on the right track.
1. Take Care of Yourself Physically
Not taking care of yourself physically can exacerbate the stress in your life caused by the divorce. If you are not exercising, eating right, or getting enough sleep, your stress level often will increase and your physical health will suffer.
There is a correlation between stress and illness so lack of attention to your physical health can result in an actual physical illness. Make sure you get out and get fresh air, eat healthily, and get enough sleep.
2. Look out for Yourself
You may feel defeated during the divorce process and don’t want to fight for what is rightfully yours because it stresses you out. If you go through the divorce and end up with nothing, that will only serve to increase your stress.
Instead, look out for yourself. Make sure you are getting what you are entitled to. For example, you might wonder how does a buyout work in a divorce if you want to keep your home after your spouse moves out.
3. Reach out to Others for Support
It might be tempting to isolate yourself to avoid talking about the divorce, but this is the last thing you want to do. Reach out to supportive family and friends to talk through what is going on. You might be surprised at much better you feel.
If you don’t have a supportive family or friends or don’t feel comfortable talking to them, seek professional help. A therapist can help you work through your feelings, alleviating stress in your life.
4. Allow Yourself to Grieve the Loss of the Relationship
Whether you were together for 5 years or 50 years, the end of a marriage is a huge life event. Allow yourself the time to grieve the loss of your relationship. This looks different for everyone.
Some people may be able to move on quicker than others. The key is allowing yourself time to grieve but recognizing when it’s time to move on as well.
5. Don’t Make Hasty Decisions
You might be tempted to make hasty decisions about the division of property, child custody arrangements, or getting into a new relationship. When under stress, it’s easy to make hasty decisions that seem logical at the time, but in the long run, they’re not right for you.
Give yourself time to think things through, seek professional advice where relevant, and don’t allow yourself to be pressured to agree to something you aren’t sure about.
Manage Your Stress to Effectively Cope With Divorce
In the thick of it, coping with divorce effectively may seem impossible. Learning to manage your stress can seem insurmountable.
However, with the right coping skills and plenty of self-care, you can, and will, make it through your divorce. You might even find that you come out on the other side a better person.
If you found this article helpful, please take a look around at our other posts for even more useful content.
