Divorce often comes with conflict, hurt feelings and complicated questions with no easy answers. Under these circumstances, taking steps to protect and improve your mental health can be vital.
If you are going through a divorce, consider the following ways you can protect your emotional and social well-being.
Take mental well-being seriously
Too often, people do not prioritize their mental health because they don’t realize how crucial it is to do so. Or they feel they do not have enough energy or resources to devote to anything besides the situation at hand.
But our mental health affects every aspect of our lives, from how well we sleep to how productive we are at work. When our mental health suffers, we can be more likely to make unhealthy lifestyle choices or rash decisions that we wouldn’t make under normal circumstances.
Get help
Just as you need not go through a divorce alone, you need not manage your mental health challenges alone.
Throughout a stressful, trying experience, lean on others for support. These people can include:
- Your family
- Your friends
- Support groups
- Online communities
- Mental health professionals
- Legal representatives
These parties can provide the support, guidance and information you need to feel confident and less alone.
Be kind to yourself
A divorce can trigger feelings of guilt, shame or depression. Being kind to yourself is one of the most critical ways to preserve your mental well-being and cope with this process.
Some of the steps you can take to do this include:
- Validating your feelings – Your emotions can feel extreme and unpredictable, but know that this is normal during a stressful event.
- Prioritize self-care – Various strategies can help promote a healthy relationship with yourself, from taking a long bath to starting an exercise routine.
- Walking away from volatile situations – Doing this can prevent arguments and keep you safe.
Improving your mental health can have immediate and long-term benefits and make it easier to navigate and recover from the challenges of ending a marriage.