Going through a divorce can inspire a host of emotions. While many of these emotions may be positive, there are often some tough feelings that may arise at some point. One of these is grief.
Divorce inspires a lot of changes. Some of these might make you feel grief about things you’re giving up or that won’t happen. Grief isn’t necessarily because you’re bidding adieu to your ex.
Prepare for the year of firsts
It may come as a shock when certain things happen over the first year post-split. For example, you won’t have an adult at home waiting on you when you get home and need to vent. That could make you feel sad or upset. The first year after the divorce comes with first holidays, such as Thanksgiving, your birthday and Christmas. There will be considerable changes on those days, so be sure you’re prepared to make new traditions and go through those days differently than before.
Address emotions as they appear
One of the worst things you can do is try to push emotions away without dealing with them. It’s fine to temporarily avoid them if you’re not somewhere that you can work through them, but you should address the underlying issues as soon as possible. The way you deal with these negative emotions can vary, depending on your circumstances. Connecting with family members, friends and mental health professionals may be beneficial as you process this transition.
Being prepared for each step of divorce can reduce the stress as you move forward. This will be much easier if you have the assistance of someone who can help you protect your rights.