Going through a divorce is never easy. Even when things end amicably, it’s still a “loss,” and it’s okay to go through a period of grieving. For women, life after divorce can be very different. A lot of it depends on the changes you agree to with your former spouse, but you might have to learn to live a completely new and different lifestyle from the ground up.
Can it be challenging? Absolutely. But it can also be one of the most rewarding things you ever go through. You’ll find your identity, realize you can do difficult things, and you can start the next chapter of your life feeling strong and independent.
Let’s take a closer look at what life after divorce looks like for women and what you can do to make the most of it.
A Change in Living Arrangements
Many women stay in the marital home after going through a divorce. It’s something you’ll either work out privately with your former spouse or something you’ll have to deal with in court. Whether you end up staying in that home or not, your living arrangements will change, and that can take some getting used to. Some women might struggle with loneliness, isolation, or even fear as they live alone for the first time in years.
You’ll also have to deal with your kids changing their living arrangements. Whether you split custody or have your children the majority of the time, chances are they won’t be with you every day. That can take a toll on everyone. It will cause you to keep a stricter schedule, but it can also fuel intrusive thoughts that often come with loneliness.
A Change in Careers
One thing that can be difficult to deal with after a divorce is a change in your financial situation. If both you and your spouse work full-time, you’ll be going from a two-income household to a single one. If you were a stay-at-home mom, you might have to find a job for the first time in years.
Either way, it can be a scary situation, especially if you have kids to care for. While things like spousal and child support can help, they aren’t enough to live on. You might have to downsize your living space, create a tighter budget, and get used to a more frugal way of living.
As you might expect, that can significantly add to your stress levels and even strain your schedule if you’re trying to navigate sticking with a career or finding a new job while raising kids.
Greater Stress and Uncertainty
As you’ve probably been able to pick up on, life after divorce is stressful. No matter your situation, you will have to deal with changes. On top of the more obvious things like work, housing, and creating a budget, you’ll also have to deal with personal changes.
If you have been married for a long time, you might have to start a new “journey” to rediscover who you are on your own. While that can be a bit overwhelming, you can also shift your perspective and see it from a liberating standpoint. You have a clean slate and an opportunity to write a new chapter.
Thankfully, you don’t have to do it alone. Use this time to lean on your support system. Let your family and friends help you, even in small ways. Most importantly, if you’re struggling to find your footing, don’t hesitate to seek out professional support and talk to a therapist. Feel free to contact me to set up an appointment. Together, we’ll work through the difficult emotions you might be feeling and create a plan to move forward. Conflict resolution or relationship counseling can help you learn to manage this new chapter.
