Even if you are the wronged party in a marriage, the aftermath of a divorce can be a depressing period as you experience the feeling of being single again,...
Even if you are the wronged party in a marriage, the aftermath of a divorce can be a depressing period as you experience the feeling of being single again, the fear of never finding love, and the assumption that you are less worthy as a divorcee than as a married person.Despite the heavy thoughts, you have to deal with the depression from divorce to live a better life on your terms, and one way to move on is to take care of yourself mentally and physically by investing in new relationships, going on solo dates, or vacations, and getting invested in new hobbies.
You can also seek help from other people, like a support group for divorcees where everyone comes around to talk about their experience and coping mechanisms or a certified therapist who is compassionate and has active listening skills, which they use to help you talk through your emotions.
A clever way to deal with the depression from divorce is by hitting the gym regularly, as your involvement in exercise can give you good feelings, boost your sad mood, make you healthier, enhance your self-esteem, and keep you focused on activities that slowly take away your pain.
If you also acknowledge your feelings, you are likely to move on quickly because acknowledgment will kick-start a recovery process where you will adequately mourn the loss of your marriage and accept its end, rather than denying the emotions and ending up with pent-up anger or frustration at yourself.
You may consider these ways to deal with the depression from divorce:
It's essential to care for yourself to properly deal with the depression from divorce, as it would allow you to focus on your new existence as a single being and help you quickly acclimatize to being an individual with personal goals, interests, and needs.An excellent method of taking care of yourself is to focus on the essential aspects of living like food, sleep, and shelter; and you can do this by ensuring you eat healthy meals with occasional treats, maintain good sleeping habits, and move to a new house in a comfortable location, if possible.
Similarly, practicing self-compassion and relieving yourself of guilt are ways you can employ to care for yourself as they allow you to soothe your nerves and remove the self-blame about you causing the marriage's end, thereby ensuring that you regain your self-confidence about being a good person.
You can also immerse yourself in the big picture to take your mind off the divorce, as the big picture will show you how being free from the marriage is liberating, how you have newfound freedom of self-expression, and how you can meet a better person for a more fulfilled union.
The depression can be overwhelming and may need you to get help from a depression-based group or a professional therapist to deal with the depression from divorce; the therapy is the more common option for its effectiveness at keeping issues confidential while solving them.
You may consider personal therapy with a certified therapist if you see the divorce as your failure and desire to handle the feelings yourself; the therapy can help you distill your feelings and adequately analyze the divorce to help you gain a deeper understanding of yourself.
If you and your partner prefer to address the impact of the divorce, living arrangements, parenting, and financial expectations together, you may opt for couples therapy which facilitates a constructive divorce and creates a mode of mediation between you.
And in the chance that your children are distressed and hurt by the divorce, it would be progressive to go for family therapy where all the family members talk about their emotions concerning the divorce and gain the opportunity to move on with their feelings adequately.
Exercise can be an unusual way to deal with the depression from divorce because it has likely been out of your mind during your marriage, but with the advent of the painful feelings in the aftermath of a divorce, you can consider using exercise as a coping technique as it offers excellent mental healing properties.
With the endorphins you secrete while performing an exercise regimen, exercise can help you boost your mood, fight depression, forget the painful thoughts, and make you feel better, helping you get healthier and positively impacting your self-esteem.
Considering your busy schedule, you may find it challenging to get started, but if you try to create a short period for exercise into your schedule, you are sure to get used to it and get consistent with it enough to increase the time to a longer duration.
To motivate yourself, try to get a gym buddy who will serve as your accountability partner, constantly introducing new fitness regimens and products, engaging in fun exercises with you, and checking up on your fitness motivation levels.
To properly deal with the depression from divorce, you should acknowledge the reality of your situation and understand that you lost a partner instead of refusing to accept it and burying your emotions regarding the divorce.
Once you acknowledge the pain, try to rationalize its occurrence by understanding that pain is a natural reaction to hurtful things, and that will help you realize that you have sustained an emotional injury and you’ll require different things to heal.
After the rationalization, envisage your healing process and give yourself a good time to heal the wound in your heart, ensuring that you don’t go too fast in a bid to get it over with but in a slow and methodical way that gently strips your emotional scars away.
During the recovery process, ensure you forgive yourself and your partner for the hurt you caused each other, as forgiveness can help you get rid of the past and relieve yourself of every negative emotion, allowing you to move on with a positive outlook.
Life offers more freedom and gets better when you deal with the depression from divorce, as you have free time to yourself without considering your partner in all your decisions and moves.
You may also get an enormous confidence boost from leaving the marriage because you made a life-changing decision and moved on from the resulting pain.
Another form of freedom you may experience is the opportunity to raise your kids as you like if you have full custody, allowing you to pick the most appropriate schools, teach them about religion, talk to them about relationships, and instill some life values in them.
The post-divorce freedom also removes every eggshell you used to walk on in your marriage because you feared reprisals from your partner or you feared them getting sad.
Whenever you feel depressed because of your divorce, remember that the divorce is not the end of your life, and you can still go on to have another marriage and achieve many goals.
Also, remember that there are certain things you can try to help you deal with the depression from divorce, such as taking care of yourself, seeking professional help, exercising regularly, acknowledging your pain, and embracing your freedom.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-to-care-for-yourself-_b_5719793
https://www.brides.com/21-tips-for-moving-on-after-divorce-1103025
https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/issues/divorce/recovery
https://www.divorcemag.com/blog/how-to-set-and-accomplish-fitness-goals-after-divorce
https://www1.cbn.com/family/12-steps-for-overcoming-the-pain-of-divorce
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/silverlinings-to-divorce
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, and owner of Overcomers Counseling. I'm dedicated to helping individuals find strength and healing through life’s challenges. With a deep understanding of mental health and years of professional experience, I specialize in fostering hope and resilience while equipping her clients with tools to thrive. Passionate about empowering others, she creates a safe, supportive space where everyone feels seen, valued, and capable of overcoming obstacles on their path to well-being.
Therapy provides many benefits for people battling depression. Research has shown that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is particularly effective in managing depressive symptoms. In addition, therapy can teach healthy coping skills and provide emotional support during difficult times. It may also be used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan which includes medication as well as lifestyle changes such as regular exercise and improved nutrition.
The duration of depression counseling varies for each individual, depending on the severity of their depression and their progress in therapy. Our therapists will regularly assess your progress and adjust your treatment plan as needed.
It's important to remember that you are allowed to grieve however you need to, and that doesn't mean you have to ruin the holidays for everyone else. If you need to take a break from holiday festivities, do so. Go for a walk, take a nap, watch a movie—whatever you need to do to take care of yourself. You can also try talking to your family about your grief ahead of time and asking for their understanding and support.
There are many helpful resources available, including support groups, online forums, books and websites dedicated to mental health and wellness. Connecting with other people struggling with the same issue can be especially beneficial. Additionally, talking to a trusted friend or family member can provide much-needed social support during difficult times.
Yes! In fact, it's encouraged that you open up to your therapist so they can gain deeper insight into your individual situation and develop the most effective treatment plan possible that works best for you. Your therapist is there to serve as an unbiased source of support who will respect any thoughts or feelings shared within the session without judgment or criticism.
If your symptoms of depression have been persistent and interfere with your daily life, it's important to seek help from a mental health professional. It's also a good idea to get medical advice if you experience any thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
