Five Tips to Help Your Mental Health When Going Through a Divorce
Divorce is hard. Even if you are sure that it is ultimately the right decision, ending a marriage can take a toll on your mental health. A study cited by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that recent divorcees face a spike in mental health issues—including stress, anxiety, insomnia, agitation, and depression. You should always put a priority on your mental health when going through a divorce. Here, our Largo divorce lawyer offers five mental health tips that you can use.
Tip #1: Consider Amicable Solutions (Limit Conflict)
While divorce is always challenging, not all cases are equally as stressful. Limiting conflict can help to make these less hard. Indeed, your mental health can often benefit from exploring amicable solutions that are focused on minimizing conflict and stress during your divorce. Engaging in cooperative strategies—such as mediation or collaborative divorce—may help.
Tip #2: Do Not Suppress Your Emotions
Does your divorce make you upset? That is normal. You can and should let yourself feel some of the negative emotions that come with ending a relationship. Allow yourself to fully experience and express your emotions as you navigate through your divorce. Suppressing feelings can lead to increased stress and anxiety—it is important to acknowledge your emotions.
Tip #3: Know the Importance of Taking Time for Yourself
Self-care matters. Many people put their own needs on the back burner while they are trying to navigate a divorce, especially if they are parents of young kids or teenagers. To protect your mental well-being, you need to make it a priority to set aside time for self-care and personal reflection. Whether it is through hobbies, exercise, meditation, or simply quiet time alone, recharging your emotional and physical energy can go a long way towards reducing stress and pressure.
Tip #4: Keep Yourself Connected With Your Social Network
Social support is vital in preventing feelings of isolation and loneliness that can often accompany a divorce. Regular interactions with loved ones can provide comfort, practical advice, and distraction. You may want to talk about your divorce with a trusted loved one. Alternatively, you may want to forget about it and do something else for a while. Either way, social support is valuable.
Tip #5: Be Ready to Seek Help From a Mental Health Professional
You do not have to go through a divorce alone. The same way that you should rely on a professional legal advocate (attorney) to guide you through the process, you should be ready to seek support from a mental health professional. There is never any shame in doing what you need to do to care for your mental health and emotional well-being. It is as important as physical health.
Set Up a Confidential Consultation With a Largo, FL Divorce Attorney
At the Law Office of Gale H. Moore P.A., our Largo divorce attorney is committed to helping people find low-conflict solutions to their divorce. We always put a priority on the mental health of our clients. Contact our law firm today to arrange your confidential, no obligation initial consultation. From our Largo office, we provide family and divorce representation in Pinellas County.
Source:
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7734469/