It’s impossible to deny that divorce is stressful. In fact, the emotional upheaval can directly affect your health and well-being. If you are going through a divorce, it’s important to focus on your parental and financial rights, but you shouldn’t overlook managing your stress in the process.
The healthier you are mentally and physically, the better prepared you’ll be to make it to the other side of your divorce with your rights intact. Having an experienced Round Rock divorce attorney on your side can provide you with the peace of mind you need to maintain your composure and move forward into a brighter post-divorce future.
You May Not Recognize the Level of Anxiety You’re Experiencing until Your Case Is Resolved
Often, those who are going through divorce don’t recognize just how hard it is on them psychologically until their cases are resolved and they take a moment to regroup. The stark truth is that, if you are facing a divorce, you are likely firing on all cylinders all the time, which amounts to being in fight or flight virtually around the clock and can take a serious toll on you.
One of the most challenging aspects of divorce – and there are many – is that you have to resolve primary terms that will directly affect your future, and you have to do it now. Even the speediest cases can take a considerable amount of time to resolve, and the last thing you want to do is drag yours out.
So, while you are pounding away at negotiating terms, you may not be taking stock of how it’s affecting you emotionally. If this is where you’re at, you’re not alone, and the good news is that there are things you can do to address your stress while you protect your parental and financial rights.
Make a Plan
When you approach divorce without a plan, you can end up giving every detail involved all your attention without accomplishing that much in the process, which amounts to a scattershot approach. In the end, not every detail has the same amount of importance, and keeping this in mind can help.
When you have a plan in place, it affords structure that you can build upon, which helps to ensure that the impact of your efforts will be maximized. Building structure into your divorce planning can also free up the mental space you need to put more effort into taking care of yourself, which makes having a plan a win-win.
Having a plan when it comes to divorce boils down to establishing your divorce priorities and strategizing a path forward. This is a complex matter that you’ll want to address with your practiced Round Rock divorce lawyer. They’ll help you take a broader view of your case, figure out what matters most to you, and determine the surest means of reaching your goals.
Once you determine what your priorities are, you’ll be in a much better position to negotiate because you’ll have a much better idea about which issues you’re willing to bend regarding and which issues you’re less inclined to do so. Being an effective negotiator comes down to setting your priorities, communicating clearly, taking a fair but firm stance, and being flexible.
The bottom line is that you should expect the unexpected in your divorce. Having the flexibility to make the necessary adjustments and continue moving forward can mean the difference between being a so-so negotiator and a stellar negotiator. Generally, preparation and flexibility go hand in hand, which means doing your homework can make for a less hectic divorce overall.
Prioritize Your Children’s Well-Being
A lot of the stress that those going through divorce experience relates to concern regarding their children. The truth is that divorce is hard on everyone, but children are the most vulnerable to its negative consequences.
While you’re plodding through your divorce, your concerns about your children are no doubt weighing on you, and one way to take a load off your own mind is to focus on doing what’s best for your children.
Focus on Family
Your children crave continuity, and doubling down on the traditions that you already have in place while throwing in a few new ones for good measure can make a serious difference during troubling times. Doing so helps to reinforce the fact that you are a family who sticks together, which can go a long way toward soothing your children’s nerves.
Yes, you’re busy with the mechanics of your divorce, but now is not the time to take a break from parenting. Children need structure, and sticking to their normal routines can help keep their anxiety at bay.
Putting Your Children’s Best Interests First
Another point to keep in mind regarding your children is that Texas is interested in their best interests when it comes to parenting time, and now is a great opportunity to demonstrate that you share the state’s focus. Authorities on child development agree that children are better off when they continue to spend a considerable amount of time with each parent post-divorce.
When you allow this philosophy to guide your negotiations, you do right by your children, and you greatly improve your chances of receiving a favorable parenting time schedule.
Best interest factors to keep in mind in relation to parenting time include all the following:
How committed each parent is to being an effective co-parent
How committed each parent is to supporting the other’s close and ongoing relationship with the children
Each parent’s ability to address their children’s emotional, physical, educational, and healthcare needs
When you make your children’s well-being your priority, you can relieve a serious emotional burden that you may not have realized you were shouldering. By effectively addressing your children’s needs, your own emotional well-being becomes far more manageable.
The reverse is also true, however. It’s hard to be there for your children as fully as possible if you’re depleted, which makes managing your stress a balancing act.
Go Easy on Yourself
You’re going through one of life’s more challenging transitions, and expecting yourself to do everything perfectly will only lead to problems. If there was ever a time to cut yourself some slack, it’s now.
Focus on the non-negotiables and allow yourself some wiggle room when it comes to the rest. Sticking to the basics like your kids, home, and job while you’re going through a divorce is a lot, and it’s enough.
If your kids are in a good place, your house is holding up well enough, and you’re getting your work done, you are successfully navigating the divorce landscape. Everything else other than your divorce itself can wait, and you can count on your focused Round Rock divorce attorney to skillfully guide you through that end of things.
Don’t Weather the Storm Alone
A universal balm when it comes to life’s difficult moments is having the support of those who care about us on our side, and divorce is a prime example. Don’t opt out of spending time with friends, family members, and loved ones just because you’re short on time.
The rewards of connecting with those who mean the most to you are so great that you’re better off letting something else slide. Holding off on vacuuming or doing the dishes is well worth the payoff that comes from spending time with those whose company you enjoy.
It’s also important to get your feelings out, and when you’re going through a divorce, you’re likely to have plenty. While discretion is important when it comes to divorce, sharing the highs and the lows you’re experiencing with trusted friends and family members affords you the opportunity to vent without any risk of jeopardizing your case.
While trash-talking your soon-to-be ex in front of your children, on social media, or to anyone who will listen can come back to haunt your case, opening up to those you trust the most can make a big difference in terms of your emotional outlook.
Don’t Allow Everything to Become a Battle
If you and your divorcing spouse are able to have civil conversations with one another and to work through emerging issues this way, consider yourself way ahead of the game. If, on the other hand, communications between you and your soon-to-be ex are anything but friendly, avoiding them altogether may be the answer.
Limiting your conversations to written communications is a better approach than turning everything into a verbal battle. This can mean texting, using a messaging app, or emailing each other. This not only reduces the animosity but also serves as a record of your communications, which could potentially strengthen your case.
Recognize that You Will Get Your Life Back on Track and that the Results May Surprise You
It may not seem like it at this juncture, but things are going to get better, and they’re going to get better because you’re going to make that happen. It’s a journey rather than a single event, but you are taking the steps necessary to forge a new future, and that’s worth celebrating.
When you’re on the other side of your divorce and looking back, you may be surprised by how far you’ve come and by your new take on life. Your divorce is not setting the stage for your future – instead, it’s a challenging transition that you will move beyond by continuing to create a future that honors you and your children’s best interests.
The unknown can be terrifying, but you have the building blocks necessary to live a happy life, and these skills are not going to desert you. Yes, you may need to get your bearings, and yes, you can expect a few setbacks, but whether you realize it or not, you’re well on your way to creating your best future.
Know the Signs of Healthy – and Toxic – Relationships
As you move beyond your divorce, there will likely come a time when you’re ready to get back out there. The fact that you are divorcing does not mean that you are a failure at relationships, and it doesn’t mean that you’re bad at choosing partners for yourself.
What it does mean is that your marriage lasted for however long it lasted – which may be many years – and that your next relationship will be unique to itself.
It is, however, a good idea to be well-versed in the tell-tale signs of toxic relationships and what to aim for in a healthy relationship. Let’s begin with toxic traits, which include all the following:
A partner who is more interested in criticizing you than in supporting you
A partner who adopts a position of superiority and contempt toward you
A partner who approaches every obstacle from a position of defensiveness
A partner who uses emotional withdrawal to get their way
A partner who engages in gaslighting for sport
When it comes to a partner who can go the distance, you’re looking for traits like the following:
A partner who is invested in sharing with you at an emotional level
A partner who admires and is fond of you – rather than admonishing
A partner who is open to being influenced by you
A partner who helps you solve the problems that can be solved and helps you shoulder the problems that can’t
A partner who is interested in resolving disputes rather than never letting them go
It’s Time to Consult with an Experienced Round Rock Divorce Lawyer
Brett Pritchard at The Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard is a well-respected Round Rock divorce attorney who understands how emotionally challenging divorce is and has the compassion and insight to help guide your case smoothly forward, supporting your overall well-being and rights.
We’re here to help, so please don’t hesitate to contact or call us at 254-781-4222 and schedule a free consultation today.