As a parent, you likely aspire to build a safe and secure family environment for your children to grow up in. You do your best to be there when they need you, offer love, a shoulder to lean on, and a listening ear. Unfortunately, this isn’t as easy when you’re as distressed as they are, which can happen after divorce. The fact that you may also be struggling with emotions like sadness, grief, guilt, anger, frustration, and even helplessness—can make it tough to be there for anyone else.

While life may seem overwhelming after divorce, there is hope that things can get better. You deserve support during this life transition. Therapy can help. 

Living through the Pain of Divorce

Without question, a divorce can be one of the most difficult challenges life may throw at you. Behavioral health experts state that the pain inflicted by divorce rivals the grief felt when a loved one dies. Divorce can be such a shock to your system that you may end up feeling lost and not knowing what to do.

Divorce can be difficult for everyone involved. While children have the resilience to adapt even in the toughest circumstances, they may also respond to divorce with anger, resentment, withdrawal, fear, aggression, etc. These emotions aren’t always expressed in the healthiest ways, adding additional stress. 

Attitude Matters

Adversity can be an opportunity to learn and grow. Divorce certainly can create a lot of adversity. Intense emotions can be a source of motivation. Though it may seem like your children’s sense of security is compromised as they try to adjust to a new, unsettled world where their parents are not together anymore, it can also bring the opportunity to reinforce family love and resilience.

It is important to note that if you are in grief or sadness it is likely your children are also. Negative speech and expressions can be contagious, causing your children to engage in this type of thinking as well. Though unintentional, your feelings may impact your actions in ways you may not be proud of later.

Moving Forward

Divorce changes everything, including your hopes and expectations of the future. As a parent, you may feel uncertain about how you can provide your children the right support to get through divorce. This is a time when children need to have hope for better days. It may be an uncharted territory, but as a parent, one of the best things you can do is give them that hope as you negotiate the changes that are happening during this unsettling time.

There are various ways to help your children adjust to a new life after divorce. Your positive energy and patience can be an expression of your love, care, stability, courage, and strength despite your own pain. Staying positive can be the key to keeping you strong for yourself and your children during this transitional period. Life after divorce may not be easy for everyone, but seeing your children thriving in the new circumstances can bring you inspiration.

Finding Hope for You and Your Children

No matter how well a divorce is handled, it causes huge upheaval in the lives of the divorced couple and their children. It is difficult for everyone involved and you deserve support as you navigate this new phase of life.

Therapy can help you process your divorce and decide how you would like to move forward. We can’t always control what happens to us, but we can control how we respond. Your search ends at Carolina Counseling Services – Southern Pines, NC, where you’ll be welcomed into a safe and caring environment to heal. Call today to schedule your first appointment.

Related Articles:

• A Hopeful Life after Divorce
• Letting the Old Feelings Go After Divorce
• How Couples Can Survive Life Transitions
• Healing from the Pain of Betrayal in Marriage
• Is Your Relationship Facing Challenges?