From trying to handle the legal process with a divorce lawyer in Philadelphia to navigating your own emotions, divorce can often significantly impact mental health. Stress, anxiety, and self-esteem can all run low during such a trying time. It’s important that even during such a stressful time that you prioritize your mental health. Below are five tips to help you care for yourself while navigating divorce.

1. Share the Burden

Don’t try to shoulder the weight of the divorce by yourself. This can make you feel isolated and alone. Instead, reach out to people you trust and confide in them. It’s healthy to talk about how your emotions. Keeping everything inside will only harm your mental health.

By sharing the burden with others, you’re giving yourself a chance to heal and process the divorce. You’re also opening the door for your loved ones to support you as you navigate the process both legally and mentally.

2. Exercise

Exercise is proven to naturally improve your mood. Strengthening your body moving gives you an opportunity to get out of your own head. Try to do at least half an hour of exercise every day, such as yoga, jogging, walking, or weight lifting. If you don’t like to exercise, there are other ways to get your heart rate up, such as vacuuming, doing household chores, or playing with your kids.

3. Set Aside Time for Hobbies

It’s all too easy to let your passions fall to the wayside during a divorce. A prolonged loss of interest in your hobbies is a common sign of declining mental health. Your hobbies help to define the person you are, so when you no longer engaging in them you can feel lost. 

While you’re going through a divorce, set aside time each week or even each day to pursue your personal interests and passions. This can give you a sense of normalcy in what is likely to be a very confusing and stressful time.

Don’t have any hobbies that aren’t related to your ex-spouse? Now is a great time to discover what makes you happy. Try painting, biking, or playing a musical instrument. 

4. Get Professional Help

Seeking professional help is a great way to pursue good mental health. Remember, it’s ok if you need help to navigate the complex emotions you are feeling at this time. A therapist is a trained professional who can help you acknowledge your feelings and find out how they may be impacting your behavior and mental health. A therapist can also teach you coping mechanisms to help you manage any emotional issues you may be going through.

Find a therapist who has experience with divorce so you can get expert advice on your unique situation. The more you open up and the more effort you put into therapy, the faster and longer lasting your recovery will be. 

5. Give Yourself Time

Healing from divorce is a slow process. Don’t be in a rush to get things back to normal because the reality is things have changed. You’re defining a new path for yourself as a single person, which can be difficult or even intimidating. Give yourself time not only to grieve but to find new hobbies, seek professional help and heal. It’s important to remember that healing from divorce is not a race. You’re on your own timeline.

Divorce isn’t easy to go through and can often lead to mental health issues. However, there are small ways in which you can pursue self-care and promote positive mental health. Reach out to others for help, try new things, visit a therapist, or start a workout plan. It’s healthy and reasonable to put yourself first during such a trying time.

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About the Author

Veronica Baxter is a writer at Assign Your Writer, blogger, and legal assistant located near Philadelphia. She frequently works with Schwartz Family Law, a divorce lawyer in Philadelphia