7 Tips for Coping With Divorce Stress

September 28, 2018January 17, 2019
by Angie

Angie

When you’re going through a divorce, your Stockton family law attorney will be there for you every step of the way – but what about when you’re at home, being overwhelmed by stress related to the split?

Use these seven tips for coping with divorce stress to help get through this difficult time.

7 Tips for Coping With Divorce Stress

Some of the best ways to cope with divorce stress include:

Staying physically active
Letting go of things you can’t control
Nurturing yourself emotionally
Adjusting your expectations
Making time for fun
Sleeping enough
Joining a support group

Staying Physically Active

Exercise releases endorphins, which are critical at a time like this. While you may not feel overwhelmed with joy after a workout, being physically active can help clear your mind and help you shed some stress. Regular exercise will elevate your mood while it helps to relieve tension, anxiety and even anger.

Letting Go of Things You Can’t Control

You can’t control what other people do, but you can – to an extent – control what you do. That means you need to recognize that you can’t control your ex or the way he or she acts, so let go of him or her. There’s no shame in walking away from your ex because he or she causes you too much stress; you can communicate through your attorneys, a mediator, or even through emails if necessary.

Do Things That Relax You

Whether you’d rather curl up with a good book, watch a movie or play Sudoku, you need to make time for yourself and the things you enjoy. Take a hot bath, start a new hobby (or revisit an old one), and surround yourself with people who care about you. No matter what you do, these are the types of things that recharge you and give you the ability to cope better with adverse situations.

Adjusting Your Expectations

Go back to the fact that you can’t control what your ex says or does. You can’t control how the judge will rule.

With both those things in mind, don’t expect to be able to control anything but yourself and how you react to things. Let go of how you think things should turn out and just know that you’ll have to accept what happens in the end.

Join a Support Group

Seeking help is a sign of strength. It’s what we’re hard-wired to do as humans anyway; we look for help and connections when we need them. Participating in a support group can help you deal with the emotions you’re experiencing right now – and part of that is because you’re talking to people (or even just listening to people) you know can relate to what you’re going through. You’ll learn from others’ experiences and get advice on what worked for them, and you can share your own experiences to help other people in the group – and those are all stress-busting activities.

If you can’t join a support group, for whatever reason, you might want to consider seeing a therapist who understands divorce on an individual basis. Your kids might benefit from talking to someone, too.

Making Time for Fun

It’s hard to have fun when you’re going through a divorce. We know that, and so does anyone else who’s ever been through a divorce. However, it’s incredibly important.

If you can’t have fun – either financial or time constraints are preventing you from doing what you want to do, or you have another reason – it’s important to remember not to isolate yourself. Humans are social creatures, and we need other people during our most difficult times.

Sleeping Enough

Lack of sleep clouds your judgment, makes you irritable, and prevents you from functioning on all your cylinders. Getting even one good night’s sleep will boost your energy levels, enhance your memory’s capabilities, and improve your creativity – and it helps you stay clearheaded enough to make big decisions about your (and your children’s) future.