Dealing With Grief After Divorce

When you think of grief, you may imagine the death of a loved one. However, you can still experience grief even when someone has not died. Many people grieve the death of a relationship, which is why grief after a divorce is common.

It can take time to heal when a relationship ends. A divorce can be an emotional experience, even if you are the one who initiated it. Even when the relationship sours, ending it for good can be emotionally painful because it’s a huge loss. You are losing the partnership, the dreams, and the commitment you had with your partner.

Romantic relationships in particular are so full of promise. You start on a high note but then eventually end on a low note as you become disappointed.

A divorce leaves you with a lot of uncertainty. What happens next? Where will you live? Will you be alone forever?

These unanswered questions lead to painful emotions such as grief. How can you deal with the grief and move on? Here are some ways to cope after a divorce.

Recognize Your Feelings

Many people—especially men—try to hide their feelings after a divorce. This only prolongs the grief. You need to recognize your intense feelings and know that they will lessen over time. It’s normal to feel these emotions, so be aware of them and work through them.

Seek Support

After a divorce, you may feel like sitting in a corner by yourself and getting away from everyone. This is not the best route. Instead, find support from friends and family. If you don’t have anyone to confide in, join a support group. You can also seek help from a therapist.

Whatever you do, don’t isolate yourself. All this does is make matters worse. It causes mental and physical health problems, raising stress and reducing your concentration.

Don’t Be Hard on Yourself 

Don’t expect to perform at optimal levels during a divorce. Anticipate that your work and caregiving activities may suffer for a while. That’s OK. Give yourself a break as you heal from your divorce. Try not to take on too much during this time.

Find New Meaning in Life

A divorce is not the end of the world, although it may feel like it. Find new things to do with your life. Think about what you enjoy doing and what things you want to try. Make this new chapter about you. It’s easy to lose your identity once you become married, so take some time to get to know yourself.

Seek Legal Help 

Divorce comes with a lot of negative emotions. Breaking up even after just a few years together is no easy task.

Fort Lauderdale divorce attorney Edward J. Jennings, P.A. has decades of experience in the field. Let us help you unravel all the elements of your marriage. We have resources that can help you move on post-divorce. To schedule a consultation, fill out the online form or call 954-764-4330.