5 Tips for Stress Management During DivorceAside from the death of a loved one, going through a divorce is one of the most stressful life events you will go through. Whether you are the party who initiated the divorce, were blind-sided by the news, or you both came to an amicable and mutual decision, you will endure varying degrees of stress in the days and months to come. The stress will not end the moment you sign the papers, but it will change, and you will adapt to a new way of life.

You may think that you can’t handle it – but you can. You just need a plan for working through that stress and coming out of the experience with your sanity intact, and feeling strong enough to take on whatever else life wants to throw at you.

In an article in Psychology Today, there is a Divorce Stress Scale. It was modeled after the Holmes-Rahe Scale, which was developed in 1967 and measures how likely the stress you are experiencing will make you become ill. On the Holmes-Rahe Scale, divorce gets a 73 score while the death of a spouse gets a 100. The divorce stress scale lists several divorce-related factors and assigns each one a number. The reader scores each factor as it is present in their lives and totals their score to see how likely the stress of their divorce is to make them sick.

We work with clients seeking divorce every day, so we want to share some tips that will help you to manage the stress of divorce.

1. Accept your feelings

You could be experiencing so many different emotions from disappointment that your marriage is ending, fear of what the future will bring, angry at your soon-to-be former spouse, confused about what to do next. All these feelings and many others are perfectly normal. Accept the feelings as they arise, and they will dissipate. Stuff them down and they will come back to cause you difficulty later.

2. Take time for self-care.

Eat a healthy diet. Continue to exercise. Do not neglect your friendships and try as much as possible to keep a consistent schedule. Do the things that you know help bring you peace and calm. Get a massage. Take a meditation class. Take long walks in nature. Find the things that nurture you and stay away from self-medication with drugs and alcohol.

3. Let go of the things beyond your control

With all the stress you are already dealing with, worrying about things that are beyond your control simply adds an unnecessary burden. Let things go and save your energy for what you are responsible for.

4. Schedule in time for fun

This might sound counter-intuitive, but amidst the potentially gloomy days of going through a divorce, it is a nice change of pace to do something fun. Participate in activities that lighten your mood, make you laugh and give you the chance to set your worries aside for a while.

5. Sleep

Sleep is as vital as food for a healthy body and mind. You need a clear mind to make all of the decisions you must make and handle all of the challenges that are coming at you. If you are not getting good quality sleep, talk to your doctor about it and follow their advice.

Bonus tip: Ask for help

Divorce can be overwhelming. If you are pretty sure that you are not handling the stress of your divorce, consider talking to a therapist or a counselor. Working through these difficult emotions now will free you up for the amazing future that you deserve once your divorce is final.

A skilled Nashville divorce lawyer is also a great help when you are getting a divorce. You need a strong advocate on your side who will fight for the outcome you want. The attorneys at Miller Upshaw Family Law, PLLC, can speak with you about your options and best next steps. Please call 615-391-4200 or use our contact form to reserve an in-person or video consultation with our dedicated legal team.