Divorce is an inherently traumatic event. Even if you initiate the divorce, you are likely to experience some traumatic fallout. You are going from a predictable life, one you may have lived for years, to starting all over.
Can divorce be a traumatic event? Under the NIH definition, divorce could be considered a traumatic event. But, based on the DSM-5-TR, divorce doesn't meet the medical criteria. It's possible that, for some people, a divorce can become a traumatic experience if it causes significant distress and shock.
Acrimonious divorces can lead to various signs of trauma and anxiety, such as negative thoughts, self-blame, isolation, depression, and insomnia. These symptoms can be exacerbated if someone already has additional risk factors, which can include: Previous trauma. Stress in other areas of life.
It's a process that's extremely tough from start to finish, and you can still feel emotional weeks, months, and even years after you and your former partner have split. The residual anger, hurt, confusion, depression, and even self-blame don't just disappear once a divorce is finalized.
The receiver will experience shock, disloyalty, loss of control, ill-treatment, decreased self-esteem, insecurity, anger, a desire to "get revenge", and wishes to settle down.
Statistics show that while women initiate divorce almost twice the rate that men do, women are also much more likely to greatly struggle financially after divorce. This is particularly true if children are involved.
“But the chaos won't last forever.” t usually takes about two years after a divorce to feel normal again, Stark says. During those 24 months, there are ways that help women heal, including talking out feelings, taking classes and even dating again.
Loneliness. Many people say that the loneliness is the hardest part. It takes a very long time to get used to being single. Not only have you lost your partner, and perhaps your best friend, but you have possibly also lost your in-laws and the extended family that you married into.
Divorce with school-aged kids (5 to 13 years old)
The school-aged years are probably the worst age for divorce for children; the potential for emotional trauma from divorce is highest at age 11.
Perhaps the most difficult period of divorce is the “separation period.” That is the time between when you decide to get a divorce, and the date when you are actually divorced.
Divorce puts a strain on the financial, social, and emotional relationships of the partners. This time particularly can be devastating for women who may lose confidence, be forced into custody issues, and may lose hope of ever finding happiness again. Some women find it hard to return to their normal self again.
A sudden divorce can leave feelings of betrayal and confusion. It can cause deep emotional scarring that takes time to manage and heal. Ultimately, nothing can prepare you for being blindsided by a divorce. If your divorce was sudden and unexpected, be aware that you may suffer trauma symptoms.
It's normal to feel sad, angry, exhausted, frustrated and confused—and these feelings can be intense. You also may feel anxious about the future. Accept that reactions like these will lessen over time. Even if the marriage was unhealthy, venturing into the unknown is frightening.
Adults involved in divorce may also experience PTSD as a result of the loss of their partner. This seems to be more likely in the case of either prolonged or high-conflict divorces, as both spouses are more likely to experience emotional distress, high levels of stress, and fear in these types of divorce.
Individuals may go through several stages of mourning or grief. The emotional intensity of this period usually reaches a peak within the first six months of separation. However, the grieving process may take as long as two years.
Given the massive amount of stress that accompanies divorce, it's not uncommon for breakdowns to arise during this time. Consider the feelings that divorce tends to trigger: sadness, anger, fear, resentment. These are all commonly experienced even in the absence of a mental breakdown.
While there are countless divorce studies with conflicting statistics, the data points to two periods during a marriage when divorces are most common: years 1 – 2 and years 5 – 8. Of those two high-risk periods, there are two years in particular that stand out as the most common years for divorce — years 7 and 8.
23. The average age for couples going through their first divorce is 30 years old. 24. 60 percent of all divorces involve individuals aged 25 to 39.
Which Months Do Divorce Filings Peak? Divorce rates peak in March and August. There are a number of reasons these two months see a large increase in divorce and separation. People are less likely to divorce during the winter holidays since these events revolve around time spent with family.
Even when a relationship is no longer good, a divorce or breakup can be extremely painful because it represents the loss, not just of the partnership, but also of the dreams and commitments you shared. Romantic relationships begin on a high note of excitement and hopes for the future.
Men Are More Likely to Remarry
This data indicates that men are consistently more likely to attempt a second marriage than women. Over the past decade, there has been a decline in remarriage rates for both men and women.
Also referred to as the "neglected wife syndrome" and "sudden divorce syndrome," walkaway wife syndrome is "nothing more than a term used to characterize a person who has decided they cannot stay in the marriage any longer," says Joshua Klapow, Ph.
Divorced men often undergo severe emotional turmoil. They may feel angry at one time and sad or depressed the next. They also suffer from regret, loneliness, disappointment, denial, and guilt. Such strong emotions often take a toll on their mental health.