How to Work Through the Stages of Divorce
Divorce’s emotional toll is often equated to the grief one feels when losing a family member or close friend. Often, it’s like a rollercoaster in a hurricane. Because grief is a part of divorce, it often works through you in various stages.
Our mental health experts specialize in the collaborative divorce process and often discuss the five emotional stages that typically occur during a divorce. These stages are as follows:
- Denial: This stage is experienced by the person who did not initiate the divorce. They often attribute the divorce to reasons other than the real reason.
- Anger: During this stage, individuals may backbite and blame, and reasoning may prove futile. It’s important to note that staying in this stage can cause long-term harm to the family unit.
- Bargaining: This is the phase in which divorcing couples begin to communicate. Mental health experts or divorce coaches can help facilitate conversations that can break down communication impasses.
- Depression: In this stage, the weight of the divorce proceedings begins to take a heavy toll on both spouses. Seeking professional help is crucial, as remaining in this stage for an extended period can have negative consequences.
- Acceptance: Reaching this stage can take a considerable amount of time. However, it’s the stage where individuals come to terms with their divorce and find a way to start a new life chapter.
It is very important to work through each of these stages to heal from the emotional toll separations often have. If you are feeling overwhelmed by divorce, be kind to yourself.
Utilizing the Los Angeles Consensual Dispute Resolution Family Law Association can ease your anxiety and stress because you will know that when your divorce is finalized, each party involved, including your children, will have worked with experts who were invested in the longevity of your family unit.
Call us today if you would like to learn more about how our members at the Los Angeles Consensual Dispute Resolution Family Law Association can help your family through divorce.
Note: This information is general in nature and should not be construed as legal/financial/tax/or mental health advice. You should work with your attorney, financial, mental health or tax professional to determine what will work best for your situation.