Tips for Reducing Divorce Stress

 Posted on April 21, 2020 in Divorce

Ending a marriage is considered by many experts to be one of the most stressful experiences a person can have. Even if you were the spouse who suggested the split, the divorce process can be extremely emotionally burdensome. You may have worries about how divorce will affect your finances, your children, your career, and your lifestyle. Fortunately, there are a number of tips that mental health experts say can help you reduce the strain associated with formally ending your marriage.

Make Your Health a Priority

Many busy adults end up putting their own wellbeing quite low on their priority lists. Experts suggest that one of the best things you can do during divorce is to make a conscious effort to keep yourself healthy both mentally and physically. Exercise has shown to have remarkable benefits to both overall health as well as mood. Eating a balanced diet and avoiding the temptation to binge on junk food will also strengthen your body and help you get through this difficult time.

Do Not Fall into the Habit Of Using Drugs and Alcohol to Cope

The flood of emotions surrounding divorce can be hard for anyone to deal with. If you have decided to end your marriage, you may feel ashamed, angry, and heartbroken. Alcohol or drugs may offer a temporary, superficial numbing of these painful emotions, but the long-term effects of drug and alcohol abuse will only worsen divorce stress. Furthermore, drug and alcohol use can have a significant impact on your divorce settlement - especially child custody decisions.

Get Support From Family, Friends, and Professionals

Many people feel the need to turn inward and isolate during divorce. However, experts say that this is one of the worst things you can do for your mental health. Spending time with family and friends can help you get the support and distraction you need. Speaking with a counselor or therapist is also a great way to vent your divorce frustrations to a professional in the safety of a confidential setting. Divorce support groups also offer the opportunity to talk about divorce issues with people who are going through the same things you are.

Consider Mediation

If you and your spouse have disagreements about property division, parental responsibilities and parenting time, or spousal maintenance, you may want to consider family law mediation. During the mediation process, you and your spouse meet with a mediator who is specially trained to help you negotiate your divorce issues. Mediation is an informal, collaborative process that takes place outside of the courtroom. Not only is mediation much less expensive than litigation, it is also significantly less stressful and combative.

Contact a Kane County Divorce Lawyer

At Shaw Sanders, P.C., we understand how difficult the divorce process can be, especially when you and your spouse do not agree about the terms of your divorce. Whether you need legal guidance regarding child custody matters, child support, the division of marital property, spousal maintenance, or another issue, our skilled Illinois family law attorneys are here for you. Schedule a free, confidential consultation by calling our office at 630-584-5550 today.

Sources:

https://www.mhanational.org/separation-and-divorce

https://psychcentral.com/lib/reduce-the-stress-of-a-divorce/