Making the decision to get a divorce can be a life-changer in the most positive ways, especially if the relationship has completely broken, or become unhealthy or dangerous. But human beings need social relationships for personal growth and wellbeing. In some cases, the decision to get a divorce can lead to unexpected health issues. Guilt, stress, financial or emotional instability, and even underlying genetic concerns can all play a part and lead to a 23% higher mortality rate in some divorcees. Fortunately, there are some effective tips for dealing with divorce stress so you can keep your health and sanity.
Burn It Off
It’s easy to lose yourself and focus on all the drama of a divorce. But the truth is, the build-up to your divorce should include a period of self-assessment, realization, and growth planning. In other words, it’s time to focus on you too. The stress can be unbearable if you let it, so why allow it to take over? Instead, join a gym, go to that dance or yoga class you’ve been meaning to try for years, or simply get back into walking or running daily. Get your friends to tag along or meet some new folks along the way and burn off the stress while having fun and improving your self-worth.
Practice Deep Breathing and Meditation
Your Michigan divorce attorney will do as much as possible to help answer all of your concerns, but there are limits. Sometimes you have to find internal grounding. If your stress is peaked to the max, try some deep breathing techniques and even dive into meditation if necessary. The exercises won’t make the problems go away, but they can help you figure out better ways to cope with them.
Clear the Air
When stress hits, it’s important to clear the air. But if you’re like most people, talking to your almost ex at that point won’t really do much other than end in another blow out argument. So instead of opening your mouth, take out a pen and some paper and write it all out. Express your grievances and clear the air once and for all. Even if you never show the page or pages to your ex, it will help get the thoughts out of your head so you can move on.
Lean on Your Loved Ones
The right support system is crucial during a divorce, so lean on specific friends and loved ones. Make a list of people for this group after you make the decision to get a divorce and make sure they’re on board. Then rely on them. There’s no reason you should be alone at this time, so let your friends do their job and absorb some stress or at least help you forget about it for a while.
Focus on the Positives
Divorce is a crucial stage in life to find the little joys. Maybe you lost ten pounds or found a great recipe to try over the weekend. Perhaps you got a raise at work or a cute stranger smiled at you. Keep track of whatever flicks that joy switch on a daily basis, and soon you’ll be more focused on the good aspects of your life than the bad.
Get Some Extra Support
Don’t be too proud or nervous to seek out extra support. A divorce support group or parenting group can help you connect with others going through similar ordeals and give you answers and solutions that even your closest connections can’t. Discuss your needs and concerns with your Michigan divorce attorney to see where to start to gain control of the stress and move on towards a happier tomorrow.