5 Ways to Care for Your Mental Health During a Divorce

Nobody gets married and expects that relationship to end in divorce, but sadly, relationships break down for a multitude of reasons. Whether you and your spouse are dealing with infidelity, you simply don’t get on any longer, or your marriage is not working out for any reason, divorce can be very damaging to your wellbeing both physically and mentally. Marital problems and divorce can lead to depression, a lack of satisfaction with life, and even health problems, particularly after the divorce procedures have come to an end. People who do not put their mental health first during a divorce after often left feeling angry, helpless, sad, and lonely afterward.

That’s why it’s so important to understand the emotional impacts of divorce and figure out how best to deal with them yourself. We’ve put together some of the best ways to work through the grieving process of divorce and keep your mental health strong.

1. Hire a Good Divorce Lawyer

The process of divorce can be very confusing for some, and in certain marriages, divorce is anything but a straightforward process. But whether or not you and your ex-spouse have decided to split amicably or not, hiring a good divorce solicitor will ensure that you are taken through the process as smoothly as possible. Having an experienced, professional solicitor by your side means that you will be able to deal with any issues quickly and get the best possible outcome for yourself during the process, particularly if you are dealing with the division of valuable assets or joint savings. Head over to the following link to get in touch with a divorce solicitor in the UK based on their location, experience, specialty and more.

2. Put Yourself First

Going through a divorce is undoubtedly a stressful time in your life, whether or not you were the one who initiated proceedings. You might also be dealing with the negative emotional effects of whatever went wrong in your marriage, such as infidelity. Clearly, there’s a lot to deal with, so it’s massively important to ensure that you are looking after yourself. Pay attention to eating healthy foods, even if your appetite isn’t itself right now. Proper nutrition can help you experience both mental and physical stability, which can make it easier for you to deal with the divorce process. Regular exercise and breathing techniques can help you control stress and sleep better at night, and no matter how tempting it might be to get black-out drunk, avoiding drugs and alcohol is necessary for maintaining physical and emotional health.

3. Talk About It

Going through a divorce can bring up all kinds of emotions, some of which are going to be very conflicting. You might be going through the stages of grief in terms of your marriage, but at the same time, relieved to be out of it and excited about pursuing this next chapter in your life. You might feel guilty if you are the one who initiated the divorce and your ex-spouse was not in agreement but at the same time, feel that it’s the best decision for you. Understandably, all these conflicting feelings can leave you confused and struggling to cope, so it can be very helpful to talk it all through with a trained professional such as a divorce counsellor, who can help you make sense of these feelings, validate them and help you move forward.

4. Staying Positive

Staying positive can seem impossible if it feels like your world is crashing down around you, but even though divorce is a difficult time for even the toughest of people, it’s important to find ways to boost your spirits and keep your sense of humor going strong. It’s important to focus on your strengths right now and avoid looking at the divorce as a failure; instead, see it as an opportunity to start a new and exciting chapter in your life. Surround yourself with energizing, positive friends and family members who you feel comfortable talking to and know will make you laugh; this is a great way to decrease your feelings of stress or loneliness and start to feel like yourself once again.

Spend some time catching up with friends who you may not have seen as often during the marriage, whether it’s just meeting up for a coffee and a catch-up or treating yourself to a weekend away if you can. When you are on your own, keep your spirits high by listening to uplifting movies or watching inspirational or comedic movies, or read a book that motivates you.

5. Don’t Rush into Anything New

Now that you are back on the market, it can be tempting to explore your options, but try not to pressure yourself to go back to dating right away. Trying to find a new potential partner too soon after your divorce can affect your mental health in a range of ways and leave you feeling stressed, impatient, and isolated if things don’t work out quickly. Instead, take this time to focus on yourself and rediscover who you are without your partner before you start thinking about dating again.

This is an excellent opportunity to rediscover old hobbies that might have fallen by the wayside or spend some time trying something new that you’ve always wanted to have a go at but never gotten around to. You should be your own main priority right now and it’s entirely possible that during this process of self-discovery, you might meet somebody who will eventually become your special somebody. But if not, don’t worry – you’ll certainly meet plenty of new friends.

Divorce is a challenging period for anybody and can certainly be very damaging to your mental wellbeing. That’s why it’s so crucial that you make looking after your mental health a priority during a divorce. You might benefit from writing your feelings down if you are struggling; studies have shown that daily journaling can be very helpful for working through both practical and emotional issues which can make it easier to cope through a divorce.