Divorce can often leave people emotionally broken and hollow no matter the cause of the breakup. It is not uncommon for people to go into a state of depression once their relationship ends.
In this article, we’ll talk about how to emotionally get through a divorce.
Let’s get started:
Understand What You’re Going Through — Stages of Divorce
There are five emotional stages of divorced defined as:
- Denial: This is the stage where you decline to accept that your relationship has ended. However, not everyone goes through this stage.
- Anger: This is the stage where you blame your ex-partner, yourself, others, or the situation for worsening things. As a result, you may start to feel irritated and get into arguments with others. Some individuals may also fall into a state of self pity because they take the blame.
- Bargaining: At this stage, you would want things to go back to normal because you regret what has happened. You may want to go and talk to your ex-partner about making amends.
- Depression: This is a very long and often painful stage that’s surprisingly common. In some cases, only one individual may feel depressed and in others both the partners may fall into a depression that can be due to a variety of reasons including loneliness, regrets. It is important to be around people when you are depressed because it is not uncommon for people to make mistakes at this stage.
- Acceptance: It can take you quite some time to reach the last stage, which is when things will begin to get better. Once you know it is over and it is time to move on, you will feel less depressed and emotionally drained.
Most divorcees will go through all these faces before they can move on. According to experts, it can take about 9 months to reach the final stage but it can take some people longer.
Related reading: How To Trust Someone Again After They Hurt You?
The tips that we have defined covered all the stages and will answer how to emotionally get through a divorce.
Know That It Is Okay To Feel Bad
You will feel bad if you had an ugly divorce or if you still feel for your partner. It is natural for one or both partners to feel anger after a divorce. You need to understand that it’s okay to feel that way and things will get back to normal.
Do not feel sorry just because your emotions are not under your control. It can take people two months to realize what they’re going through.
The best way to stay in control is to stay away from things, people, places, or habits that remind you of your ex-partner.
Pay Attention To Your Physical Health
Since divorce can make people depressed, it is common for individuals to neglect their physical health.
Some people stop eating during this phase and some even get isolated, which can have a negative effect on both their physical and mental well being.
Eat on time, drink enough water, and move around. There are two kinds of people — some come out of a divorce looking fitter and some end up shabby. Make sure you’re the first one.
Remind Yourself You’re Strong
You are stronger than you think you are. Be around people who remind you how strong you are and what you are capable of. If you let negative thoughts affect you then it can be very difficult to feel positive.
Related reading: What To Expect From Marriage Counseling?
Be around people who motivate you to be better and maintain distance from your partner. It may be a good idea to let others know you two are not together anymore.
Seek Professional Help
There is no harm in looking for professional help. There are experts who can help you deal with the situation by speaking to you and providing you tips on what to do if you feel emotionally broken.
There are a lot of stigmas attached to going to a counselor. Some people brush off such ideas because they do not realize the importance of a shrink or what a pro can do for them.
Related reading: 8 Most Common Reasons For Divorce
Reports suggest that speaking to a professional can help people come out of depression. This is very important because those who are going through a divorce often find it difficult to open up about their feelings that stay hidden deep inside and bother them.
Such individuals can easily trust a professional and speak what they feel, which lightens them and gives them the motivation that they need to continue moving forward.
Give Yourself a Break
If you are having a difficult time then consider a break. You can go away for a few days to relax and chill.
Some people believe that this trick can backfire because going away from people you love can push you into depression, however we’ve found that a break can turn out to be very beneficial depending on what stage you are on.
This trick works best if you are at the last stage of acceptance. Once you have accepted that your relationship is over, you will be ready to move on.
So, give yourself the opportunity to relax and know new people. You do not have to get into a relationship right away but there is no harm in having fun.
Cry If You Feel Like
This may come as a surprise to some but we really believe that crying can help people feel better. Emotional tears contain stress hormones, which is why crying helps reduce stress.
Other than this, crying helps us stay calm and regulate our emotions. It’s also a reliable way to tell others how we feel about a certain element. Plus, it aids sleep and enhances mood.
Related reading: How To Deal With Divorce When You Still Love Him
We’re not asking you to cry if you do not feel like crying but if you do then do not stop yourself from shedding tears. Eventually, the tears will dry and you will be back to feeling good.
We hope these tips will help you get through a divorce. The key lies in being patient and doing things that make you happy.
