A woman talking to a nurse in an office. The woman appears sad and in some type of depressive state

Mental Health and Divorce

Take Great Care to Protect Yourself

Going through a divorce can be one of the hardest things a person can do in their lifetime. The process can feel as if you are slowly reaching a breaking point, and because of this, your mental health can suffer.

Your mental health matters and will always matter. Here are ways you can better protect your mental health during a divorce.

Acknowledge What You Feel as Real and Valid

It is not enough to simply acknowledge that you are feeling sad or alone; you should also know that it is okay to feel the way that you do. You are going through one of the most difficult experiences you will ever have to face, and no one expects you to just grit your teeth and bear the pain. The feelings of sadness you have are real, and it’s completely okay to feel that way. Allowing yourself to believe this is one of the first steps toward healing.

Do Not Allow Yourself to Stay Down

However, one of the most important things you can do is to look ahead to the future. While it can be normal to look back on the past and wonder where things may have started to go wrong in your relationship, continually allowing yourself to look back prevents you from looking forward to what’s coming in your life.

When you look back, you allow yourself to gradually spiral down into further feelings of sadness and frustration, and it can be difficult to climb out of this pit. It’s better to purposefully look forward with the goal of healing in mind.

Change Your Perspective

It’s very easy to view getting a divorce as a sign of failure, and believing this lie only fuels your negative emotions. Instead, you should try to look at your situation through a different lens. Instead of thinking of divorce as a bad thing, consider it the start of a new beginning in your life. That fresh perspective can do wonders for positive thinking down the road.

Set Boundaries for Yourself

Divorce can be a long process, and how you and your spouse interact throughout it can directly impact how long the overall process takes. Sometimes those interactions might not be healthy for you, whether you respond without giving yourself a break or those conversations turn ugly.

Early on in your divorce, set boundaries for yourself as to how you will interact with your spouse and when. Even in something as simple as sending a text message, set a limit for yourself that you will not cross or come close to.

Seek Additional Help When Needed

Sometimes divorce can simply be too much to handle. In these moments where you feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to turn, remember that it is okay to ask for help. Asking for someone to come alongside you and walk your journey with you is a sign of strength, and a time as difficult as divorce is one of the better times to highlight just how strong you are.

If you are unsure of who you should turn to for help, reach out to your divorce attorney. With that in mind, you should look for a qualified mental health professional or a therapist to help you process your emotions and give you guidance on how to move forward.

Reach Out to Your Attorney

When divorce gets difficult, be sure to reach out to your attorney for help. They have worked with many clients prior to you, so they have experience in helping others get through difficult times in their lives. At Law Office of Alexandra White, PC, we know how difficult it can be to work through something like divorce; our team is committed to helping you get started on the new chapter of your life while empathizing with how you are feeling.


Learn more about divorce in Colorado or schedule your free consultation with a member of our team by calling us at (303) 647-4245 or by visiting our website.

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