No couple wakes up one morning and decides today is the day for a marriage breakup. Couples in Canada make the decision to divorce most often when all avenues to rectify problems in a marriage have been exhausted. Although divorce can take its toll both emotionally and physically on the individuals and their family members — especially children — there are some things that can be done to minimize the stress a divorce can cause.
No one needs to go through tough times alone. There is help available. Even those who don’t wish to discuss their personal feelings with a friend or loved one can find help in a counsellor, family priest or minister. The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) says it is important not to internalize all the feelings associated with divorce and there is no weakness in getting help.
Accepting that a marriage is over is the first step on the road to healing. Trying to look at the situation from a positive perspective — if divorce is viewed as an opportunity for a new beginning, rather than an ending — it may create an environment of excitement rather than dread. Also, if there is not too much animosity between the two individuals, compromising on issues in a realistic manner — perhaps with the help of a lawyer or mediator — may make things go much more smoothly.
There is a lot of paperwork associated with divorce in Canada. Getting legal counsel on what those documents are and how they need to be filled out properly will go a long way to alleviating the stressors divorce can create. A lawyer might be able to provide advice on which divorce process might be right for a particular client. Mediation might be preferred to litigation, but a lawyer will help a client to answer that question.
Source: huffingtonpost.ca, “13 Ways To Reduce Stress During A Divorce“, Joy D’Souza, Accessed on Jan. 28, 2018