Stress of Divorce Can Lead to Health Complications - Protect Yourself with Stress-Busting Tips

 Posted on November 04, 2016 in Divorce

Divorce can be emotionally stressful and potentially traumatizing for some. In fact, the experience is so traumatizing that around 60 percent of all divorcees experience physical symptoms, such as depression, muscle aches, fatigue, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Women are also at a higher risk for heart complications after divorce. Thankfully, there are ways that you can protect yourself, and your health, during divorce. The following information explains further.

Reach Out and Ask for Help

Probably one of the biggest mistakes that divorcees make is they try to take on the divorce and its grief all on their own. Rather than ask for support or help, they muddle through the grief and pretend that all is fine. Some may not even tell family or friends until long after proceedings have started. Do not make this same mistake! Let those that love you support you during this time. Ask for help if you need it – from friends, family, or even professionals. Whatever you do, do not try to deal with it alone.

Exercise and Eat Right

Exercise releases feel-good endorphins, and it gives you a way to relieve a lot of the emotional stress you are feeling. The added bonus is that, by exercising, you are taking care of your heart and protecting yourself from another common divorce ailment: weight gain. Pair this with healthy eating and you have a recipe for success. You will feel more in control of your health, and that can lead to improved self-esteem and better emotional grounding during the divorce process.

Try to Find the Silver Lining

It can be difficult to find the positive in the end of a relationship. Yet even the darkest cloud can have a silver lining. Look for it in your divorce. Maybe being single will give you the freedom to pursue passions and dreams that you gave up during marriage. Or maybe it will finally permit you the chance to finish your education or lose that weight that has been hanging on since your last child. Maybe you can finally advance your career. Maybe it is just knowing that you can finally live on your own terms. Whatever it is, rejoice in it, reflect on it, and try to remind yourself of it as often as possible.

Be Patient with Yourself

No matter how hard you work at it, there will be hard days during divorce. It is simply a part of the grief process. Be patient with yourself on these days. If you need a day to just stay in bed and cry, do so. If you have a day that you are just angry with your ex-spouse, journal it or vent to a friend without letting yourself feel guilt over the hurt. After all, divorce does hurt. There is nothing wrong with processing those feelings, a little at a time, as you can. Just remember to ask for professional help if you need it.

Get Experienced Legal Assistance with Your Divorce

Divorce is complex enough without trying to do it all yourself. Contact the Law Offices of Tedone and Morton, P.C., where your best interest is the priority. We will fight to protect your rights, strive to alleviate the stress, and advocate for you, every step of the way. Schedule a consultation with our Plainfield, IL divorce lawyers to learn more. Call 815-733-5350 today.

Sources:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3804178/From-PTSD-depression-eczema-muscle-pain-devastating-toll-divorce-health-experts-warn.html

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/Pages/reduce-stress.aspx