Staying Healthy After Your Divorce a Tried-and-True Formula
Your physical and mental health will be affected by your marriage ending. When you’re going through a divorce, you may need a lawyer and a doctor to come aid you in getting through the hard times.
According to a study at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg, both men and women who go through a divorce increase the risk of diabetes, chronic conditions like heart disease, and mobility issues.
However, the experience differs from person to person. You may feel as if your life is going to change for the better, so you start enjoying life to the fullest and thriving because of your newfound freedom. You may be someone who feels overwhelmed at the fact that your divorce will leave you with the financial and emotional issues that are coming your way.
Whatever your circumstance, when a marriage is ending, it’s a significant transition to go through. Try these tips for keeping your body and mind strong and in shape.
Protecting Your Physical Health after a Divorce:
1. Make an appointment. Be proactive about your health and discuss your situation with your physician. Follow their recommendations for screenings and preventive care during this time of hardship. The stress from the divorce will make you vulnerable to serious health conditions and may affect your immune system.
2. Start a journal. A journal will help you keep track of constructive patterns suited for your new circumstances. Divorce has a way of disrupting your daily routine and a journal will come in handy when keeping a record of your healthy lifestyle habits.
3. Monitor your weight. Extreme feelings of emotions may alter your appetite by stimulating it or removing it all together. It’s important to keep eating a balanced diet regimen with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and nutritious whole foods. Eating outside of the norm will make you gain weight and create a depressed state of mind.
4. Exercise on a consistent basis. Exercising burns calories and soothes tension. While at the gym or yoga class, you may even meet new and interesting people. Stay in shape and don’t let yourself go, that’s the last thing you need is something else to add to the stress you already have.
5. Get enough sleep. Make sure to stick to a regular bedtime and create a quiet and dark atmosphere to help you fall asleep with ease. Negotiating support and custody agreements may trigger insomnia, so be aware of how much sleep you get when going through this tough time. Don’t deprive yourself of rest because you need to be sharp when making decisions.
6. Contain stressful situations. Talk with your doctor if you partake in excessive drinking or other self-medicating behaviors. When you’re stressed out, get a massage, or try some breathing exercises. Take your mind off of things by doing activities that relax your mind and body.
Protecting Your Mental Health After Divorce:
1. Accept your feelings. You might be uncomfortable with your emotions and thoughts during this time. Nonetheless, the first step in healing is to validate your experience and let go of any judgements. All of this is temporary, so accept what’s going on in the moment and release all of those emotions when it’s said and done.
2. Stay positive. If you’re a parent, make life a little pleasant for you and your children. Look at things from a different perspective and find reasons to laugh and have a good time. Do things that will shape your future and give you something to look forward to in your new life.
3. Get support. When a divorce takes place, friends will pick a side or walk away. Surround yourself with friends and family who give you constructive advice because they have your best interest at heart. Join a local support group for divorcees or find one online, so you can talk to others that are going through the same thing or have been where you are and can show you how to get past it.
4. Pray and meditate. Attend services of worship, read motivating posts, and share your thoughts of life with others around you. Your spiritual faith is one of the best sources of comfort and strength when dealing with life stressors. Lean into making the time to meditate more and be at peace in your time alone.
5. Discover a leisure hobby. Exciting activities will help you grow into your new identity and fight against loneliness. Try something new and active like sports or fall back into comfort and enhance your paining skills.
6. Create a budget. Look at free online budgeting websites or speak with a financial consultant. When you create a budget, you can jump in front of the stress that comes with additional expenses and the lost income of your ex-spouse.
7. Consider counseling. Any troubles in a relationship can aggravate preexisting anxiety or depression conditions. While these may be temporarily in place due to the divorce, it’s still good to speak with a therapist if you need to get some things off your mind. Help is readily available any time you want to reach out.
Even after all is said and done and you’re at peace with the divorce, keep in mind that ending your marriage may have a long-term impact on your physical and mental wellbeing. Safeguard your health so you’ll have the strength to build the next phase of your future. Planning your new life will require you to be at your best, so be sure to stay openminded, try new things that make you happy, and surround yourself with positive people.
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