Divorces are difficult. It doesn’t matter if you and your spouse are divorcing amicably — there will still be hard feelings and strong emotions. It’s going to be rough, especially if you were married for many years.
You will be busy working with your lawyer and possibly looking for a new place to live. You may have to get a job (or another one) and work on a budget that reflects your new income. There’s a lot going on and it will no doubt be a stressful time.
Divorce will affect your health more than you know. Your emotional and physical health will be affected in many ways, so it’s important to reduce stress and take some time to relax and engage in healthy habits. It won’t be easy, but your body will thank you later.
What should you be concerned about? Here are some common health issues that can manifest during a divorce.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a big one. After a divorce, you’ll definitely be feeling a lot of uncertainty as you navigate from married life to single life. It’s a big change that you’ll be going through alone. You don’t have a partner anymore. It’s you against the world, and if you’re naturally a nervous person, the anxiety you’ll face now will be amped up to level 11.
There’s a lot to worry about. How will you make ends meet solely on your income? Will the kids be OK? Will you have to move or get a new job? If you’re obsessing over these questions, then anxiety is kicking in.
Depression
Anxiety can manifest into depression. It’s easy to feel like a failure after a marriage ends. Depression may make life feel hopeless. You may feel angry and sad and unable to move on. Daily life becomes too hard.
It may help to talk things out with a loved one, but it’s probably best to discuss the divorce with a neutral third party, such as a therapist. A therapist can help you understand why you feel the way you do and help you find ways to make life more meaningful. A divorce is not the end of the world. People get divorced all the time.
Insomnia
Anxiety and depression can also lead to sleep troubles. It can be hard to get to sleep and stay asleep when your brain is going 100 miles a minute. Divorce can keep you up at night as you think about every possibility now that you’re on your own. Many divorced people even have nightmares, making night time especially hard.
Heart Disease
Divorce can lead to cardiovascular problems in both men and women due to the added stress and inflammation. Studies show that divorced middle-aged women are even more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than divorced middle-aged men. This is because the stress of divorce leads to higher levels of inflammation in women, and that inflammation can persist for some time. This is likely because the period after divorce is highly stressful, especially for women. They tend to suffer financial issues and stay single longer than men.
Drastic Changes in Weight
People tend to experience huge changes in weight as they go through a divorce. Some people are too upset to eat, so they lose a lot of weight. Then there are those who turn to food for comfort and may be eating constantly or eating more junk food than normal. Donuts and fried foods may become part of their everyday diet. Or maybe they’re eating fast food multiple times a day. Divorce causes people to get skinny or fat, depending on how they react. In either case, it’s not healthy. It’s better for those going through a divorce to eat healthy and exercise.
Metabolic Syndrome
Many divorced people also suffer from metabolic syndrome, which means they have several dangerous conditions at once. They may include high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, and excess belly fat. These conditions increase your risk for heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Divorced women are more likely to develop metabolic syndrome than women who are in happy marriages.
Contact Us Today
A divorce is a highly emotional event that can affect your physical health in many ways. Know what to expect so you can keep your health in check and avoid life-threatening issues.
The Ohio divorce attorneys at Lawrence Law Office can help you divorce with ease. Our specialists will help you move on quickly so you can reduce stress. Schedule a consultation today by calling (614) 363-0752 or filling out the online form.