According to Inverse, men departing heterosexual marriages have more anxiety and mood disorders than women in the first few years after a divorce. The article shares the stories of five U.S. men who experienced such problems after ending their marriages.
Although all parties to a divorce can expect some psychological effects, most believe it happens to women rather than men. Perhaps the article will empower more men to seek counseling or therapy before, during and after divorce.
Emotional stages of divorce
You may know about the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. The emotional stages of divorce include the above, but they typically occur differently. Men may shift between these stages, one minute feeling angry and the next succumbing to depression.
In each story, the men described how they felt in the months and years after a divorce, revealing a pattern of mood and anxiety issues. They also conveyed how counseling helped them recover.
For example, one says therapy is his “first, second, and third recommendation” for surviving divorce emotionally. Another said that he regrets not seeking help before the end of his marriage.
Specific benefits of therapy include:
- Teaches healthy coping methods
- Provides an outlet for emotional venting
- Encourages resolution of misplaced emotions
- Uncovers and addresses blocked or repressed feelings
- Identifies inappropriate or perhaps dangerous coping behaviors
If therapy or counseling is not for you, consider hiring a life coach. One of the men interviewed for the article reports that his coach helped him rediscover the “possibilities” he had given up on during his traumatic marriage.
Therapy can help you deal with your immediate trauma, allowing you to focus on obtaining a favorable outcome. An improved focus ensures you violate no Colorado divorce laws or make other mistakes that could jeopardize your settlement.