Separating from the person you thought you would spend the rest of your life with can create a lot of intense emotions. If you suffered from emotional abuse during your marriage, you could feel even more distress.
As you begin the process of divorce, shielding your emotional well-being can help you heal. Knowing which steps to take to facilitate recovery from emotional trauma can expedite your healing and give you hope for your future.
Prioritize self-care
Juggling the logistics of your divorce and managing the barrage of decisions about your future may leave little time for your personal needs. However, to support your emotional healing you need to prioritize self-care. Some of the things you can do include the following:
- Incorporate meditation and exercise into your daily routine
- Eat a balanced diet and drink plenty of water
- Get at least 8 hours of sleep each night
- Socialize with people you care about
- Work with a professional therapist
Practice forgiveness
One of the biggest challenges of divorce is moving past the grievances of your marriage and finding hope in your future. According to Psychology Today, one of the best ways to heal from divorce is to choose to forgive. Forgiveness enables you to enjoy freedom. Just because you extend forgiveness to your ex does not mean you have to reestablish a relationship with him or her. It is not an excuse for any wrongdoing you suffered.
Your personal decision to forgive can help you focus on your goals and aspirations for your future. If you have children with your ex, your gracious attitude can play an instrumental role in facilitating a functional and cordial custody arrangement. Your decision to move on can show your ex that you refuse to allow him or her to continue to affect your life.