If you find you’re struggling during your divorce, there is help available. Listed below are some excellent resources that all have a track record of helping people through difficult times. Reaching out to others—even if you are hesitant—might be worth checking out during your separation or divorce.
For some people, personal discovery through therapy can be a meaningful way to look at your life history and gauge your response to what you are currently experiencing. Opening up and looking at what happened in a professional setting can be cathartic. Many people emerge from therapy stronger.
Some people have a strong faith in God. God can work miracles for someone going through divorce. If you are faithful, it’s a wonderful tool to have in your tool kit. Get involved in your church, or find one if you haven’t been to church for a period of time. Read your Bible and pray. God has seen many of us through the toughest times of our lives, over and over again. Life isn’t easy; those who develop a strong relationship with God can often endure and even thrive through trial and tribulation. If you are looking to fill your swimming pool with activities and make new contacts and friends, most churches are full of group activities and charity work. Faith is a wonderful way to cope if it works for you.
You may want to check your local Google listings or with your local churches for divorce recovery groups, because you can really benefit from their support. Some groups are religious and some are not; some are expensive and some are not. If you are financially pressed, you may be able to get into a divorce recovery class for a reduced rate. Most classes are limited to a number of people—usually five to twenty—but size can vary depending on the program.
The Accidental Divorcée participated in a divorce recovery class, and she can say that it was one of the very best things that she did for herself postseparation and divorce. It was an incredibly hard time, but she made three friends in the class immediately. The class encouraged her to text and call those three friends outside of class to form a support group, and she is very good friends with two of those people today.
Here is the psychological advantage of going to a divorce recovery class: you meet people who are in the same place you are, mentally and emotionally. They are grieving and they have suffered a loss. From the first meeting you instantly identify with these people and they identify with you. They have also been wounded and are facing all of the same issues: dealing with the ex, lawyers, custody, children—all of it. It helped the Accidental Divorcée put her situation in perspective and realize that she wasn’t alone.
The class gives you a place to express your grief, work through helpful exercises, and it speeds up your recovery. You feel known and have the opportunity to make some friends. A support group can help you heal faster by helping you move through the stages of grief so you can rebuild your life. That is the long-term benefit of the class. You also get to laugh, because in a support group, you can see how crazy getting divorced really is for most people.
There are many other resources available for the body, mind, and spirit. Some are new; some have been around for centuries.
Never underestimate the power of touch and the art of spiritual healing; it might work for you. If you have always been curious about something and wanted to check it out, here is your chance.
Acupuncture – A part of traditional Chinese medicine to treat pain, stress, and other ailments by inserting needles into the body at specific acupuncture points.
Massage – Physical massaging of the muscles, hands, feet, and head to relieve stress and promote relief and health.
Reiki – The Japanese technique for relaxation through the laying on of hands and controlling the flow of energy through the body.
Chiropractic healing – Manipulating the spine to diagnose, treat, and prevent disorders of the skeletal and neurological system. It is thought that if the spine is in alignment, your physical body is stronger, which increases your ability to fight stress.
Reflexology – The practice of applying pressure to specific points and areas on the feet, hands, or ears. Reflexologists believe these areas correspond to different organs and systems in the body. Pressing on them has a beneficial effect on the organs and the person’s health.
Crystals/Energy work – Alternative medicine that employs stones and crystals and claims that different stones have different healing powers.
Psychics – Clairvoyant work to divine the past or tell someone’s future. A psychic involves the supernatural and metaphysical world to help the subject find out what will happen to them.
Astrology – Based on the premise that there is a relationship between astronomical phenomena and events in the human world. Astrology consists of a system of horoscopes purporting to explain a person’s personality and predict future events in their life based on their birthdate.
Meditation – The practice of training the mind or inducing a mode of consciousness to benefit the individual. It encompasses a broad range of methods to promote relaxation and build internal energy or life force. Meditation is used to self-regulate, clear the mind, and ease many health concerns.