Valentine’s Day is supposed to be one of the happiest days of the year; however, if you’re coping with divorce, you may feel less than excited. Many of your friends may be receiving chocolate and flowers from their spouses on Valentine’s Day. Instead, you may be recovering from a marriage that didn’t work out. Here are some ways you can deal with a difficult Valentine’s Day while coping with divorce issues:
Seek Support From Friends and Family
Although your friends and family members may be celebrating Valentine’s Day in their own ways, they can certainly take time to comfort you in your time of need. Even if you sought the divorce, you are likely having a difficult transition into the single world. You may feel lonely and stressed. Talk to someone about your feelings, especially if you know someone who has been through a divorce. Their experienced input can be helpful when coping with divorce.
Talk to a Professional
Although your friends and family may have good intentions, they may not be able to help you develop necessary coping skills to deal with your feelings after a divorce. A professional therapist or counselor can help you learn about yourself, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and heal from the pain of the past. If you feel you are suffering from depression, anxiety, or any other condition, you should talk to your health care provider about mental health treatment.
Stay Busy
When you’re coping with divorce, it’s best to stay busy. You may have had traditions and habits with your ex-spouse. Now that you’re not taking part in those activities, you may have extra time on your hands. This can lead to an unhealthy focus on your former spouse and the unhappy relationship. Instead, schedule an outing with someone you love or take part in a community service event. Volunteering with those less fortunate can provide you with a healthy perspective seeing the lives of others. Find a new hobby or participate in an athletic or fitness event. Keep in mind that you are investing in your new life.
Don’t Make Any Major Decisions
It’s best to take time to settle into your new life when coping with divorce issues. You shouldn’t do anything drastic or make any major irreversible decisions about your future. For example, don’t quit your job in an attempt to avoid questions from coworkers. Don’t move completely out of the geographic area just to avoid familiar people and places. Take time to calm down and adjust to your new situation.
Don’t Snoop on Your Ex
It can be tempting to look up your ex-spouse and try to find out what they are doing and who they are associating with. However, this constant connection will only magnify your negative emotions. If you see that your ex is with another person, you may experience jealousy, guilt, and sorrow. If your ex appears to be having a good time in social media pictures, you may feel that the situation is unfair. While coping with divorce, avoid your ex’s social media, email accounts, and phone records.
Don’t Contact Your Ex Unnecessarily
Although you may have to contact your ex regarding children, property division, and other aspects of your divorce case, don’t communicate with them unnecessarily. Save yourself the pain of hearing their voice. Have an attorney contact them instead.
Contact an Attorney When Coping With Divorce
Going through a divorce is one of the most difficult things a person can endure. Seeing everyone celebrate Valentine’s Day can cause you even more pain while you’re coping with emotions after a divorce. If you have questions about your divorce or want to speak with an experienced divorce lawyer, contact Rick Banks Law today at
(559)222-4891. When you’re coping with divorce, you deserve to have someone on your side.
