A decision to divorce is one that’s often a relief because of the contentious situations that led to the end of the marriage. Some may believe that the sense of relief is the primary emotion they’ll experience throughout the process, but that’s not necessarily going to be the case.
Learning about the other emotions you may have to deal with while you’re going through divorce and the first year after may help you to decide to handle them more effectively. Some of the more common include the following.
Sense of loss from the changes
You may feel a sense of loss, but it’s not necessarily because your marriage ended. This is likely because you don’t have someone to listen to you when you vent about a hard day or to celebrate with you when you have an accomplishment. It can also be because you recognize that you won’t have the traditions you’ve become accustomed to. Dealing with this sense of loss may involve finding new friends to share life with and new traditions to enjoy.
Stress and uncertainty about the future
Divorce throws you into a new life with very little warning. Things like trying to figure out the budget or how to handle situations with the children may lead you to feel stress. You may feel uncertain as you learn how to set up your new way of life. You can deal with these feelings by planning and preparing as best as you can.
Throughout the divorce process, you’ll need to make efforts to the protect yourself and your interests. This can mean learning your options about the property division process and working out a parenting plan. Having the assistance of someone familiar with these matters may be beneficial as you go through this situation.
