Stress and the Divorce Process

Many of life's changes bring stress, but few are so stressful as divorce. While you try to maintain a normal, everyday lifestyle for yourself and your children, you must also work through issues that will affect your future. It's no wonder that many people find the process nearly debilitating.

Because you will be making important, life altering decisions during this time, it is important that you take care of yourself and find a way to deal with and mitigate the stress of divorce.

First and foremost, you should find a lawyer you trust and who makes you feel comfortable. All of your relationships during this time should focus on the positive, but your relationship with your attorney is key. She will be working with you for the duration, and will be privy to your innermost thoughts, hopes and goals. Your relationship with your attorney should not cause stress, it should alleviate some of the concerns you may have.

You should also focus on yourself and who you were before your marriage ended. Take the time to take care of yourself so that you are in a better position to take care of your children. You will also be in a better position to make appropriate decisions when you need to.

Take the time to plan for your future. Uncertainty about the future causes everyone a great deal of stress. By understanding your financial situation and taking a clear look at what the future holds, you will be better able to move forward without fear. You needn't plan for every contingency, but it is a good idea to have your long-term goals in mind when you work through your division of property.

Finally, if you are committed to a non-adversarial process, you should work toward staying out of court. The courtroom can be unnerving for anyone who enters it. It is particularly stressful for families who are trying to negotiate the end of a marriage. By looking toward collaboration or mediation in order to resolve your disputes, you can not only save yourself antagonism and aggravation by being involved in an adversarial situation, but you may also save money. Most importantly, you may also improve co-parenting relationships moving forward.