How to get out of depression after a divorce

Divorce is one of the qualified life events as more stressful. Acute and chronic stress, especially affects emotional and physical health. There are research that suggests that divorced or widowed people have more chronic diseases (diabetes, cancer ...) in 20% than married people. In addition, other studies showed that a person's level of happiness decreases as divorce is approaching, if the person does not work on it. In this psychology-online article, we show you some tips that can help you prevent depression in this situation, as well as techniques that can help you get out of depression after a divorce.

1. Divorce depression symptoms
2. Feelings after a divorce
3. Tips for overcoming divorce depression

Divorce depression symptoms

There are cases in which divorce becomes a stressful and traumatic event in which pain is excessive and some are experienced Depression symptoms:

• Not being able to sleep or sleep more than normal.
• Eating in excess or lack of appetite.
• Excessive fatigue.
• Strange and unusual pains.
• Excessive alcohol or drug consumption.
• Difficulty of concentration.
• Persistent negative thoughts.
• Irritability or anger.
• Anxiety or restlessness.
• Feeling of guilt or uselessness.
• Pessimism or indifference.
• Loss of interest in activities that were previously very rewarding for the person.
• Death -recurring thoughts.
• Suicidal thoughts (immediate professional aid).

Although it is normal to feel some of these symptoms during this process, the person should contact a specialist if he experiences at least 4 of the previous symptoms on a day to day for a prolonged period of time.

Feelings after a divorce

Since the person knows that there will be a separation, this goes through a series of emotional stages with respect to this vital event, generally characterized by pain and loss:

Denial

Denial is the way we try to protect ourselves before an "emotional storm" and we try to overcome emotionally. It is a useful coping mechanism, as long as it does not prevent us from leading a normalized life. Therefore, the characteristic of this stage is that it does not abuse it, that is, We should not stay in denial, Refusing to face reality is not an adequate strategy. Therefore, denial is a useful mechanism in the short term, while in the long term it involves high costs in the life of the person.

Anger

During this stage, the other is blamed for everything that happens to us. For a while, all those adversities that we are finding in our new life are the fault of the other person, we do not play any role. Anger or anger make us not see anything good in the ex -partner. It is a stage in which any time is used to release all repressed anger In the denial phase.

Negotiation

This stage is characterized by trying to fix or repair the damage caused for separation. It is when you stop to think and say I can't with this, I will negotiate anything with him/her in order not to go through this.

It is an attempt to recover your "life". At this stage, you begin to long for the positive aspects of the ex -partner, her smile, her jokes ..., and you want me to return. That is, it goes from despising him in the anger stage to weigh it in this negotiation stage. This is where the person thinks if divorce is a correct decision or not.

Depression

At this stage, you won't feel to leave home, or do anything. You prefer to be on bed or watching television for most of the time. Sadness is your companion during this stage. This is an expected stage throughout this process, where the person is elaborating the duel (he has lost his companion). Therefore, it is essential that you surround yourself with a good support system, whether family or friends, as well as therapy sessions, if necessary. It's very important Do not be isolated During this stage.

Acceptance

This stage is the end. After having gone through adversity, you have overcome it and have learned from it, but we must take into account that accept the new situation It does not mean that we are always happy and that we do not have negative emotions about divorce. There may still be moments when you feel angry or sadness for the loss of your marriage. The important thing is that even if you still have those negative moments or feelings, they are no longer paralyzing or interfering with your life.

Tips for overcoming divorce depression

Take note of the following tips that can help you get out of depression after a divorce:

• Do not compare yourself with other people who have gone through the same as you. Remember that each situation is different and each person is different. In addition, the same situation does not affect us all equally or in the same way.
• Look for new activities and relationships that can help you build your new life, but don't hurry, wait for a while before starting to take steps.
• Think something positive that you can get what is happening to you. Every morning before getting up and at night he thinks about something positive of the current moment.
• Do not be a isolate or live only these difficulties. APPOJE IN YOUR FAMILIES OR FRIENDS, BUT YOU MUST choose those people in your environment who have good listening skills and that can respect your feelings and constitute support for you.
• Take care of your physical health. Eat in a healthy way, perform the physical exercise you can and try to sleep enough to maintain good levels of stress and depression.
• Plan the performance of activities. Try to do things that in the past were very rewarding, even if there is sadness or depression you must fulfill that plan. It's not about waiting to be fine to do things, but about doing things to start being fine.
• Be aware of your emotions (anger, guilt, sadness, loneliness, etc.) and feel them. The way to free yourself from your emotions is to recognize, accept what you are feeling and allow them to feel them.
• The pain for a separation is not exceeded in one day, it is essential to respect the times. There are not established adequate times, each person has their circumstances and must mark their times to overcome divorce depression.

This article is merely informative, in psychology-online we have no power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

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