Understanding the Effects of Divorce on Mental Health

What’s the connection between divorce and mental health issues? With Arizona’s relatively low divorce rate compared to many other states, local couples may not have thought about this much. The CDC reports that only 2.3 divorces are recorded for every 1,000 residents, suggesting many Arizonans won’t ever have to worry about calling a divorce attorney in Goodyear, AZ, or another part of the state.

Still, marital struggles haven’t completely disappeared from the Grand Canyon State. You may be among the thousands of married couples in Arizona who decide to end their unions every year. If so, you should prepare yourself – divorcing your spouse significantly impacts your emotional well-being.

Learn more about the effects that divorce may have on your mental health below. Preparing for the strain of separating from your spouse can make the process slightly easier. You can emerge as a much stronger person.

How Can a Divorce Affect Your Mental Health?

From the second that you and your significant other decide to divorce, the decision will impact just about every aspect of your life. Parting ways will affect your physical health, financial wellness, and social relationships. Many argue that divorce affects their mental health more than anything else.

Some people working through this process receive diagnoses of mental health disorders. That’s understandable. The stress and complicated nature of this process can make it difficult for a person to function normally.

What should you look out for regarding divorce and mental health? Here are a few ways that legally splitting from your spouse may cause harm to your mental well-being:

You Might Suffer From Elevated Stress Levels

According to the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale, a divorce causes more stress than any life event, bar the death of a spouse. This scale puts divorce as more stressful than:

• Spending time in prison.
• Sustaining a serious injury.
• Being fired from work.

It also found that the stress associated with a divorce might impact your physical health. Divorce-related stress can even increase your chances of chronic health conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

Some people minimize stress by developing solid self-care routines and utilizing tools like therapy and support groups. However, the uncertainties surrounding divorce make it almost impossible to eliminate stress altogether.

You May Struggle With Anxiety

Stress is far from the only factor that might affect your mental health during a divorce. For many, extreme anxiety becomes part of the experience, including panic attacks and other severe anxiety-related symptoms. It isn’t hard to see why so many people who are divorcing their spouses struggle with anxiety, either.

You may feel worried about what the future will hold now that you are no longer with the person you had hoped to spend the rest of your life with. You might begin feeling anxious as you strive to figure out the answers to big life questions like:

• How am I going to cover my expenses on one income?
• Can I keep and live in the house I owned with my spouse?
• Will I have to move somewhere else with my children?
• What will my life be like as a single person after being married for so long?

If you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse share kids, that can complicate matters further and cause you to feel even more anxious. You will wonder what impact your situation will have on the children and worry about how they will adjust to all the changes set to come their way. It’s perfectly normal for people who are divorcing to suffer from some anxiety, but pay close attention to physical symptoms like rapid heartbeat, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, nausea, and muscle tension.

If you start suffering from any of these symptoms, you may want to speak with a professional about your stress and anxiety. Knowing the healthiest ways to cope could prevent more serious health problems down the line. Otherwise, you may also see advanced psychological effects taking a toll alongside extreme anxiety and inducing:

• Excessive fear and worrying
• Difficulty concentrating
• Intrusive thoughts
• Intense feelings of doom
• Overwhelming irritability

Panic attacks would also fall into this category.

You Might Deal With Depression

When thinking about divorce and mental health, depression is probably one of the first words that comes to mind. It is not out of the ordinary for people to feel sad about the end of their marriages. However, it’s worth noting when that sadness starts to morph into very real depressive episodes.

A 2018 survey conducted by AARP discovered that more than one-quarter of people deal with depression after divorce. These people suffer from persistent sadness that lasts for an extended period. Sometimes, the process leaves them feeling empty and hopeless when considering their futures.

If you’ve recently been through a divorce, you might be struggling with depression if you experience a loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy, trouble concentrating at school, work, or home, or a tendency to become irritated over seemingly minor issues. In extreme cases, those suffering from depression after divorce might even have suicidal ideations.

If you notice any of these symptoms of depression, don’t hesitate to reach out to a therapist or counselor to help you navigate this challenging time in your life. A support person could provide suggestions on how to properly process your emotions without it having such a devastating impact.

You May Experience Anger

Anger is one of the many emotions you will likely feel following a divorce. You may find that you’re angry because:

• You think your spouse gave up on your marriage and wasn’t willing to try harder to save it.
• You dislike all the changes you have to make in your life.
• You are upset with yourself for your role in the decision to end your marriage.

In many instances, this anger will dissipate over time and fade away completely, enabling you to move forward with your life. However, this isn’t always the case.

One long-term study by Wallerstein and Blakeslee covered divorced couples back at the turn of the century. The study uncovered startling statistics about the anger that some still harbor. For example, it found that about one-third of men and half of women remain angry with their former partners, even years after their splits.

There is nothing wrong with expressing anger during and right after a divorce. However, if you continue to feel angry long after the settlement wraps up, this might be detrimental to your mental health. Talk to a professional about ways to process this anger more effectively so it doesn’t weigh you down for a lifetime.

How Can You Take Care of Your Mental Health During a Divorce?

In the long run, many people find a positive balance between divorce and mental health by taking steps to protect themselves in the months and years that follow the divorce. You can put yourself in a position to improve your mental health in the weeks, months, and years after a divorce, too. However, you must take the right approach in the short term to experience these long-term results.

Here are several steps that could move you in the right direction as you navigate the aftermath of the divorce proceedings:

• Establish a strong support system: Unfortunately, many people isolate themselves from others during divorces. Psychologists recommend that you resist the urge to do this. Surround yourself with family members and friends who can set you up with support and give you the strength to push through tough times.
• Practice good self-care: Maintain a healthy diet, set aside time for exercise, and prioritize sleep. Also, allow yourself to participate in activities you enjoy to stay in a more positive frame of mind.
• Avoid harmful coping mechanisms: Avoid turning to alcohol, drugs, gambling, and other coping mechanisms. These activities will only mask the emotions you feel instead of helping you to work through and resolve them.
• Take time to grieve: During and after a divorce, you are mourning the loss of a relationship and the loss of the future you thought you were going to have. Let yourself grieve the loss. This acknowledgment can allow you to heal.

If you’re facing a divorce, you’ll also want to seek professional help from a therapist or counselor. Rely on the person you choose to help you process your emotions and provide you with ideas on how to minimize stress, anxiety, depression, and anger. Suppressing these things never ends well.

Recognizing How Divorce and Mental Health Overlap Makes It Easier To Move Forward

Divorce and mental health are inextricable. There isn’t any way for divorcing couples to avoid this truth, but they can each work on keeping their mental health intact while divorcing. Realize the connection and take steps to care for yourself throughout the marriage dissolution process.

Lincoln & Wenk, PLLC, provides the necessary legal guidance during a divorce, which could reduce your stress and anxiety. Mental health and child custody are also connected, so it helps to have a representative on your side. Contact us at 623-294-2464 to schedule a consultation!