Divorce or a breakup can be one of the most challenging experiences a woman can face. It was one of the most painful experiences I’ve ever endured, apart from the time when my eldest son had cancer and I was six months pregnant at the same time. It shook me to the very core of my being.
It can leave you feeling broken and emotionally drained, but it’s important to remember that healing is possible. These six effective coping strategies will help you navigate the journey towards emotional healing and support after a divorce or breakup.
Key Takeaways
- Emotional healing post-divorce or breakup is possible with the right coping strategies and support.
- With the right mindset and approach, you can move forward from a divorce or breakup and regain emotional well-being.
- Effective coping strategies include embracing your emotions, seeking support, engaging in self-care practices, creating a new routine and setting goals, exploring professional help, practicing forgiveness and letting go.
Embrace Your Emotions and Allow Yourself to Grieve
When going through a divorce or breakup, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed with emotions. It’s important to remember that your emotions are valid and should not be suppressed. Give yourself permission to grieve and allow whatever emotions to come up without judgment.
Grieving is a natural process that allows us to process our emotions and move toward healing. It’s more than okay to cry, to feel angry, or to feel lost. In fact, you should encourage these emotions as these emotions are part of the healing process.
"The only way to get through pain is to go through it. Embrace it and allow yourself to feel it. Only then will you be able to heal and move on."
By allowing yourself to grieve, you’re giving yourself permission to feel. One of my favorite sayings is “you must feel it to heal it”. This opens the door to healing and growth.
Take as much time as you need to grieve, cry as much as you need to, and most importantly, be kind to yourself through the process.
Healing is a process, and if you feel like you’re taking one step forward and two steps back, understand that this is part of it. It may not seem like it now, but in time you’ll start to feel like yourself again.
Seek Support from Friends and Family
After my divorce, I realized one of the most impactful coping strategies was getting support from my loved ones. During this extremely difficult time, having people I could rely on for emotional support and advice made all the difference in my healing journey.
If you’re looking for post-divorce emotional support, consider reaching out to family members or close friends you trust. I can’t emphasize enough how incredibly helpful it was for me to have people (thank you tribe!) to talk to whom I trusted and have had a similar experience. They helped me process my emotions and feel less alone.
Learn to be okay with asking for help and leaning on your support system during this challenging time. Being vulnerable to a trusted loved one can help you gain perspective on your situation and provide you with the emotional well-being support you need.
Engage in Self-Care Practices
One of the most important things I learned during my journey toward emotional healing after my divorce was the significance of self-care. Taking care of myself became a priority and helped me regain a sense of control over my life.
Here are some self-care practices that can aid in healing and promote emotional well-being:
1. Practice Mindfulness:
Mindfulness involves being present in the moment, and it can help reduce stress and anxiety. Practicing yoga, meditation and deep breathing exercises is beneficial for your overall well-being.
2. Engage in Physical Activities:
Exercise is one of my top go-to to reduce stress and improve overall well-being. It increases endorphins, which are natural painkillers and mood boosters. Do what works for you and brings you joy.
3. Prioritize Personal Needs:
It’s important to take care of yourself by prioritizing your personal needs. This may include taking time off work, hanging out with family and friends and doing things you enjoy.
4. Create a Relaxing Environment:
Creating a relaxing environment is beneficial for emotional healing. I love coming home to my peaceful and safe space and winding down in my sanctuary aka bedroom.
Incorporate soothing scents, like lavender or chamomile, into your living space or take a warm bath after a stressful day.
5. Practice Self-Compassion:
It’s important to be kind to yourself during these trying times. Practice self-compassion by acknowledging your emotions and giving yourself permission to feel them without judgment.
Taking care of yourself is not selfish, it’s an act of self-love. Prioritizing your own needs is a critical step toward emotional healing after a divorce or breakup.
Download my free workbook 5 Steps to Unleash the Warrior Woman Within to help you shift your mindset around self-worth.
Create a New Routine and Set Goals
After a divorce or breakup, it can be challenging to find a sense of purpose or structure in your daily life. I remember feeling like a tumbleweed most days and just went wherever the wind took me. That’s why creating a new routine and setting goals can be an effective coping mechanism for post-divorce emotional healing.
Start by establishing a daily routine that works for you. This can include setting aside time for exercise, meditation, and self-care. Prioritizing these activities will provide a sense of control and stability during a time of uncertainty.
Setting goals is also an essential part of this process. It gives you something to work towards and creates a sense of accomplishment when you reach them. These goals can be as simple as finishing a book or as complex as starting a new career. Whatever they are, make sure they are meaningful and achievable.
Healing takes time, and creating a new routine and setting goals are just some of the many strategies you can do to heal and move on after divorce.
Explore Professional Help
When it comes to emotional well-being after divorce, looking into professional help can be a valuable resource. When you need more support, a therapist or transformational coach can offer expert guidance and objective insights.
Therapy and transformational coaching will provide you with a safe space to process complicated emotions. It can also help to identify and work through any underlying issues or patterns that may be hindering emotional healing post-divorce.
There are various therapeutic approaches I use with my clients such as past life regression hypnosis and holistic life and mind-body coaching using neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) which works on changing thoughts and behaviors to help achieve goals and objectives.
My clients have experienced a reduction in their anxiety and improved their overall well-being. It’s important to find a therapist or transformational coach who is a good fit for your specific needs and preferences.
Getting professional help from a transformational coach or therapist takes courage and is a proactive step towards healing emotional challenges after a divorce. It shows a commitment to self-care and a willingness to work towards a happier and healthier future.
Schedule your complimentary 15-minute video consultation with me today.
Practice Forgiveness and Letting Go
One of the biggest emotional challenges after divorce or breakup is holding onto negative thoughts and emotions. It can be difficult to let go of hurt and pain, but it’s crucial for emotional healing and moving forward.
Forgiveness is not about excusing someone’s behavior or even forgetting what happened, but it’s about freeing yourself from the burden of negative emotions that can hold you back.
“Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a constant attitude.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
When you hold onto anger, resentment, and bitterness, those negative emotions can take over and prevent you from experiencing joy and happiness. It’s like poison in your body. As difficult as it may seem, practicing forgiveness is a powerful way to reclaim your emotional and overall well-being.
One way to start the forgiveness process is to shift your mindset towards acceptance and allow yourself to grieve. Give yourself permission to feel all the emotions that come up, including anger and sadness.
It’s important to express those emotions and release them. A great way to release negative emotions is to write them down and then physically tear up or burn the paper.
Another important step towards forgiveness is letting go of the past. This means releasing the need to hold onto blame and resentment and focusing on the present and the future.
It’s not about forgetting what happened, but it’s about not allowing it to define you or your future. When you let go of the past, you create space for new opportunities and experiences.
Forgiveness is a process, and it takes time. It’s important to be patient and kind to yourself as you work through the emotions and the healing process. With time, effort and commitment, you can find a sense of peace and emotional well-being after a divorce or breakup.
Closing Thoughts
Take your time as you go through the healing process. Be patient with yourself, and don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s. You are courageous, resilient, and capable of overcoming this challenge. With these coping strategies and emotional support, you will come out on the other side of your divorce or breakup wiser, stronger, and more empowered than ever.
