Taking Care of Your Mental Health After Divorce

Getting divorced is a life-changing event that can have several effects on your health. While everyone experiences it differently, the negative impacts are inescapable for some.

Having to recreate your life and, in some cases, rebuild it entirely can be scary and emotionally tumultuous. It can negatively affect your mental health and even have ripple effects on your physical health, too.

Taking Care of Your Mental Health After Divorce

How do you take care of your mental health after divorce?

The answer would be to consider a holistic approach that addresses your mental, physical, and emotional health.

Address Depression 

Post-divorce depression is a real thing that people struggle with, and it is understandable considering you’re dealing with a very real loss. Having to willingly or unwillingly close a chapter of your life, especially when it involves someone you once cared about deeply, can bring overwhelming feelings of grief with it. If you do end up having a depressive episode, situational depression, as opposed to clinical depression, is more likely to occur.

If you don’t know the difference, situational depression tends to be triggered by a life change such as divorce or death. Clinical depression, on the other hand, is more severe and can be influenced by genetic factors, major life events, or alcohol and drug abuse. 

If you notice yourself slipping into a depressive episode, don’t be afraid to reach out for help. If not, it could begin affecting your physical health too. For instance, depression can cause chronic stress which affects all of the organs in your body. Unsurprisingly, it can also affect your heart, as research shows women who have gone through a breakup are 24% more likely to endure a heart attack. 

If you’re experiencing depression, find healthy coping mechanisms such as healthy eating, resting, and staying physically active. Don’t shy away from getting professional help if you feel you’re experiencing severe depression. A medical professional can offer a prescription anti-depressant medication like Trintellix to help with major depressive disorder, as well.

By getting help, you should eventually be better equipped to manage both your mental and physical health. In case you’re worried about the cost, find out if you have enough coverage on your health insurance for treatment, especially if you and your ex shared an insurance plan.

Consider Holistic Care 

When taking care of your mental health after a divorce, holistic care is also important. If you don’t know what holistic care is, it’s about treating your mind, body, and spirit simultaneously. These are all integral parts of your health that are interconnected. This means that they all affect each other in different ways. 

Holistic care tends to focus on healing from the inside out by combining conventional nursing care with alternative forms of care. For instance, as someone dealing with depression, you may take anti-depressants and music therapy at the same time. This approach can help you take care of your mental health while ensuring your spiritual and physical needs aren’t neglected. 

To ensure you get this sort of care, try sourcing out a holistic nurse whenever you’re seeking and receiving care. While conventional nurses can be effective, they tend to focus on research evidence, patient beliefs, and their clinical expertise. As someone who is going through an emotionally challenging time, you could find that a holistic approach is more effective. You can even try using this approach when taking care of your mental health on your own. 

Request Integrated Care 

At times, it’s easy for your health to be compartmentalized. However, you’re a whole person, so you should be approached like one when you’re receiving care. To help you adequately manage your mental health post-divorce, get regular checkups with your healthcare professional. This is the perfect time to request integrated care so that both your mental and physical health are addressed in one sitting. 

If you’re being treated for depression, clinical integration would ensure you can see several specialists at the same time. For instance, if you were dealing with situational depression post-divorce you could also receive preventative care screening. This approach ensures that one aspect of your health isn’t being treated while the other suffers.

It can also strengthen the care given to you as all healthcare providers have relevant information and are on the same page regarding your health needs. After having to deal with something as difficult as divorce, good health can make moving on easier. 

A divorce is something most people don’t actively seek out. However, sometimes it’s the only way to live a full and happy life. While you recover from the damaging effects of divorce, it’s imperative that you nurture your mental health. As mentioned above, take a holistic approach to ensure all facets of your health are getting the care they need. It certainly creates a good foundation for you to begin to heal.