Complicated Grief And Your Divorce: What You Should Know To Heal
The bed feels a little bigger, empty almost. You only have to make one side of it because the other side was untouched. The picture frames on your wall that once showed a happy couple are now bare and empty. The house that once felt like home feels like you’re just visiting. This isn’t the life you imagined.
You signed up for forever and always, til death do you part. But that’s not what happened, is it? You never would have imagined you’d be a statistic, but here you are, you’re officially divorced. You don’t know if it’s been days, weeks, or months, but you’re still trying to pick up the pieces. You’re broken and grieving.
Here’s what you should know in order to heal over complicated grief from your divorce.
Allow Yourself to Feel
No matter if your marriage ended on a good or bad note, it’s okay to have different feelings about it. You’re still going through loss and a grieving process for the change that is happening.
The feelings you’re experiencing can feel intense and overwhelming. Instead of burying them inside or trying to ignore them, one of the best things you can do is recognize and acknowledge those feelings. Grieving is an essential part of the healing process. Give yourself time to feel and move on to your next chapter.
Lean On Your Support System
After a divorce, you may be feeling alone. It can be easy to feel like no one understands what you’re going through or that it’s best to keep to yourself and isolate yourself. This is actually one of the worst things you can do during hard times.
Despite your feeling of being alone, you don’t have to go through this all on your own. Your loved ones care for you and want the best for you, no matter what. Lean on your friends, family, and other loved ones for support during this time. Talking about how you feel can be a great way to get everything out in the open. Your friends and family can listen and provide advice for you while you’re on your healing journey.
There’s a good chance that you’re not the only one among your family or friend group that went through a divorce. Seek out support and guidance from individuals that have the experience. It can be super helpful to get feedback and advice from individuals who went through a similar situation.
Focus On You and Your Needs
Any type of change in your life can be hard to adapt to. It can be easy to completely dismiss your wants and needs during this time instead of focusing on them. This is another thing that can be detrimental to your overall mental health and wellness. It may be easier said than done, but try to make yourself a priority during this time.
Make sure you’re fueling your body throughout the day. Don’t skip meals. Eat healthy and well-balanced meals throughout your day. Drink plenty of water. Make your sleep a priority and try aiming for at least 8 hours each night.
Learning to take care of yourself and prioritizing yourself again can help you heal and start the process of moving on.
Seek Additional Support
Experiencing feelings of grief after any type of loss is completely normal. If those feelings seem to linger for weeks or months after the loss, it’s a larger issue that needs to be addressed.
Don’t feel like you have to go through this time on your own. That’s definitely not the case. Whether or not you’ve tried ways to cope, if you’re still struggling, that’s okay! You’re not alone despite how you’re feeling right now.
Reach out to us today to set up a consultation. We’ll help provide you with resources and coping methods to get you jump-started on your healing journey through divorce counseling or grief counseling.
Through Therapy Collective
Our team of culturally competent therapists is here to offer a warm and safe space to help you navigate life’s hardships with a sense of encouragement and empathy. Find out more >
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