Divorce Affects Your Health If You Allow It!
Divorce is never without stress and this has its downsides, especially when it comes to your health. Divorce can be one of the most stressful times in a person’s life. Divorce affects your health in so many ways if you allow it. Divorce is actually the second most stressful time in a family’s life next to a spouse dying. It can disrupt a person’s finances, living arrangements, relationships, schedules, and parenting access, among many other aspects of day-to-day living. This disruption can last several months or go on for years, it’s really your choice how to handle it and it is important to implement coping mechanisms that exclude unhealthy behaviors. No, the neighborhood bar is not a longterm solution to your sorrow, plus it can have a negative impact on your mental and physical health.
When it comes to divorce, stress is a given. The stress can become chronic, which can affect all aspects of your health. One thing to remember is that you cannot disconnect the mental, physical, and emotional aspects of your health. If one aspect suffers, the rest will also. So, the emotional upheaval of a divorce is going to have an impact on your mental and physical health as well.
The 5 most common unhealthy coping mechanisms
- Drinking in Access
- Isolating Yourself from Others
- Emotional Outbursts (Screaming, Yelling)
- Inactivity (laying around)
- Not managing Your Life
Here are some common health issues caused by Divorce and Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms
- Depression and anxiety often affect a divorcing man’s or woman’s mental health. This can wreak havoc on emotional stability, focus, and concentration, as well as causing physical symptoms like high blood pressure and heart disease.
- Overuse of alcohol, recreational drugs, or prescription medications is an easy way to escape the stresses of divorce. These can lead to physical, mental, and physical dependency.
- Lack of motivation can make it difficult to get out of bed in the morning or even all day. This makes it difficult to go to work or school. It can make it impossible to eat a healthy diet or get out and exercise.
- A weakened immune system is a natural result of dealing with too much stress. Cortisol released by the body during stressful times suppresses the immune system’s ability to handle common infections, which, in turn, leads to more colds and common illnesses.
- Weight gain is par for the course for many men going through a divorce. Stress causes the body to store fat when it would otherwise burn it. Some people also tend to overeat when stressed, which only adds to weight gain. With motivation issues, lack of exercise is a problem.
- Troubled sleep is common with people going through the emotional ups and downs of divorce. Tossing and turning becomes a common way to spend the night. Sleeplessness also adds to stress levels which only makes sleeping problems worse.
- Many people going through a divorce also deal with an identity crisis. Divorce is a struggle of trying to figure out who you are without your spouse. This adds to the physical and emotional symptoms of chronic stress.
- Digestive issues are tied directly to stress levels. Acute, one-time stress can lead to an upset digestive system. Chronic, on-going stress can cause problems like heartburn, indigestion, and irritable bowel syndrome.
How You Deal With the Stress of Divorce will dictate How Divorce Affects Your Health!
Without careful monitoring and management, a man’s health can suffer during and after a divorce. Fortunately, there are plenty of things you can do to counter these factors and to stay healthy during this emotionally challenging and stressful time. Here are some healthy coping mechanisms.
HERE ARE SOME SOLID SOLUTIONS TO HELP YOU COPE WITH THE STRESS! FIGHT FOR YOU AND YOUR KIDS
- Schedule time throughout the day and week for exercise. Exercise does a couple of things. It helps you work out stress as well as burning calories and improving your health. Exercising with a friend will help keep you motivated and help you get out of social isolation.
- Get counseling or join a seminar, but seek professional advice versus trying to handle it all on your own. The Family does not count as therapy, family members and close friends often escalate stress. Everyone in your circle has an opinion but they are often not equipped with the know how to help. You need a professional that can help guide you through the emotional needs of your divorce. There is nothing wrong with getting help. Talking with a professional can help you process emotions in a healthy way. It can also help you manage and reduce depression and anxiety.
- Join a Support Group in your area
- If you are a parent and your case allows for interaction, or you are the custodial parent while going through the Divorce, focus on giving the children the stability and love they deserve. Let them feel that everything is ok and remain involved and active with them. Sometimes getting out of our own heads is all we need to stay strong and healthy. They will admire you for it later.
- Make sure to eat a healthy mix of foods and in regular portions. Many divorcing men either have no appetite or want to overeat the wrong foods. Even if you are not hungry, it is important to eat healthy foods at regular intervals. Indulging occasionally in comfort foods is okay, but you should not make it the norm. Good nutrition helps to stabilize the body’s immune and digestive systems, along with giving you the energy you need.
- Give yourself time to relax. Relax and let go of the stress, even for a short time. Take up yoga or meditation. Get out with your friends for a fun evening. Listen to music. Take a walk, go outside for some fresh air, do something you really enjoy.
- Adopt a dog or cat, if you feel alone and can financially afford an animal of your choice, and can find the time to care for one, it might be a great deal fo you and them. Animals can be the best companion and certainly bring joy and keep us occupied/
Divorce is never easy. The stress it brings can play havoc with a man’s health. Taking a proactive stance to monitoring and managing that stress will lead to better mental, physical and emotional health through the transition.
If you are in the midst of a Divorce in the Atlanta Area, We are located in Marietta, Georgia, and would love for you to meet with us to find out more about why Flat Fees, Experience and, a great legal team can lift some of the stress you are facing. If you are going through a divorce, consider the Law Office of Sean Whitworth.
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