By Micki McWade, MSW, CSW, LMSW
Divorce can be a traumatic. Here are ten tips to help families survive a divorce:
- Maintain your integrity as you consider the long-term implications of your decisions in the divorce.
- Try to balance your emotions with your ability to think through the adjustment of divorce.
- Give yourself time to grieve. Grieving is natural. Often times you are grieving the death of the dream of the ideal.
- Take care of yourself. Reading, going to therapy, joining support groups and taking part in activities that you enjoy can make the divorce process easier.
- Don’t let the lawyers control the process. It’s your divorce and you are in charge.
- If you have children with your spouse, you will be in contact with each other for the rest of your lives so practice civility whenever possible.
- Don’t rush into dating. When you are vulnerable, your judgment can be impaired.
- When you date, don’t introduce the person to the children right away. Spend some time talking about the person to familiarize your children with your new friend. Make sure that the person is someone you actually want in your childrens’ lives.
- Don’t speak negatively about your ex-spouse to the children.
- Listen to the needs of your body. Eat when you’re hungry, drink when you’re thirsty, rest when you’re tired and exercise to blow off steam or to lift your spirits. Taking care of yourself will give you back that all important feeling of agency.
Social workers can be instrumental in helping families get through divorce, supporting them through the process. These professionals help to empower their clients by encouraging their resiliency skills. They encourage their clients to process divorce by becoming involved in proactive activities that promote a healthy adjustment.
Social workers assist clients in making decisions based on the needs of the entire family system.
