Life after divorce: How to keep your mental health in check after a separation

A divorce can take a toll on your mental and physical health but you need to ensure you’re taking care of yourself amidst the stress.
Divorce can affect home
An ongoing divorce may affect the home environment. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Shreya Gupta Published: 3 Dec 2020, 16:16 pm IST
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Marriage is a beautiful bond that can be a source of happiness and contentment. But when it breaks, it can impact your physical and mental health. After separation or divorce, your mental health may take a hit. Feeling overwhelming anxiety, stress, rage and depression can last for months and sometimes, even years. But, you need to deal with your emotions in a healthy way in order to come on top of the situation.

Did you know divorce is the second most stressful situation that a person could encounter in their lifetime? So, now you know the impact it can have on your mental health! A study published in the Frontiers in Psychology found that there has been an increase in divorce cases during this pandemic.

Dr Søren Sander, a professor at the University of Copenhagen, says, “The mental and physical health of divorcees was significantly worse than the comparative background population immediately following divorce.” 

So, how do you cope with a divorce?

The coping mechanism differs from person to person, but you can look into these four ways of dealing with your feelings in the aftermath of a divorce:

1. Therapy

One of the best ways to cope with the negative emotional and mental effects of a divorce is to seek professional help. It is undoubtedly the best way to heal yourself and solve the unresolved problems. Therapists are trained to help you sort your feelings and offer positive methods to improve your emotional health.

2. Exercise and diet

When our mental health is suffering, it can affect our whole life. We might end up skipping exercise or eat unhealthily. However, eating good can also make you feel good. So, make sure you are having healthy meals at fixed timings. What’s more, exercise releases endorphins which are also known as the feel-good hormones that can help you manage stress and anxiety better.

breast
Exercise can do a whole lot good. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

Also, read: Just broke up? Here are 8 dos and don’ts to deal to help you deal with the heartbreak

3. Sleep properly

A lack of sleep can leave you even more irritated and annoyed. You might experience irregular sleep because of stress or anxiety, but make sure you get enough sleep.

4. Surround yourself with friends

Having the support of your friends and family at this crucial point is very important. They will not only help you cope better but also can change how you feel. It will reassure you that you are not alone in this.

A divorce can be very tough to deal with but you have to remember that you have a new life now that you need to focus on. Hence, taking care of your mental health is extremely important.

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About the Author

Finding nirvana in good food, Shreya also loves reading books and is a die-hard Potterhead. Confident and motivated she's fun to be with. Plus food. Always. ...Read More

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