If your husband left you, your world probably feels turned upside down. You may feel shocked, sad, angry, and fearful of the future. It will take time for you to heal and figure out what comes next, but we have 10 ways to help you cope with losing your marital relationship. So let’s get started helping you see a brighter future.
How to Deal with the Emotional Upheaval From a Spouse Leaving
If your husband left you, it’s normal to feel a range of intense emotions. You may feel shocked, sad, angry, or even scared about what the future holds. It’s essential to allow yourself time to grieve the loss of your relationship.
Separation and potential divorce are significant life changes, and it will take time to adjust. Here are some tips for how to deal with the emotional upheaval:
1- Acknowledge Your Feelings
It’s essential to allow yourself to feel whatever you’re feeling. Don’t try to bottle up your emotions or tell yourself that you shouldn’t be feeling them.
Allow yourself to grieve in whatever way feels right for you, but don’t kick yourself while you’re down. Even if you feel like you carry partial or total responsibility for your spouse leaving, don’t beat yourself up!
No one on this earth is perfect or gets everything right in a relationship. It takes two to tango. So let yourself off the hook while finding ways to acknowledge your feelings. Then just keep taking your next step.
2- Talk About What Happened
Talking about the end of your relationship can be difficult, but sharing your story with someone who will listen without judgment can be helpful.
Start with a friend, family member, or anyone else you trust to listen and care.
3- Write About Your Experience
Putting your thoughts and feelings down on paper can help you to make sense of them and process them in a healthy way.
One way to journal is by writing emails you send to yourself. Place them in a “Divorce Feelings” folder. Someday you may look back and see how far you have come!
Or try writing out your prayers and sending them to your “God” folder. In a few years, look back and see how your prayers transformed your life for the better!
4- Seek Professional Help
If you’re finding it difficult to cope with the end of your relationship, seeking professional help from a therapist or counselor can be highly beneficial. They can provide support and guidance as you navigate this difficult time.
In addition, talking with an experienced divorce attorney can help you see the legalities of what is happening. A knowledgeable attorney can help you protect your rights at a time when you may feel too overwhelmed to look out for yourself or any children’s future.
5- Give Yourself Time to Grieve
When your husband leaves you, it’s essential to take care of yourself both physically and emotionally. This is a challenging time, and you need to be gentle with yourself. As mentioned above, it’s crucial to allow yourself time to grieve the loss of your relationship. Grieving is personal and takes the time that it takes for you.
When you can talk about what is happening without feeling like you’re falling apart, you’re getting closer to adjusting to your new normal. Give yourself and any children the gift of time to feel your pain and loss before letting those feelings go.
6- Take Care of Your Physical Health
Be sure to eat healthy foods, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep. Taking care of your physical health will help you feel better physically and emotionally.
7- Spend Time With Friends and Family
Surrounding yourself with loved ones can be a huge source of comfort and support during this difficult time.
However, be careful about who you spend time with. If your parents or others judge you for what happened, they are the last people you need to listen to or talk with about your struggles.
8- Try a New Hobby or Join a Club
Doing something new can help you to feel more positive and take your mind off your current situation.
You may also find that you grow as a person when you push yourself to do something out of your comfort zone. Joining a group or participating in social activities can help you redefine your identity and see yourself in a new light.
And seeing yourself clearly outside of your marriage relationship is crucial to moving forward. Getting out there with others helps you see that you have value and worth independent of your marriage!
9- Be Kind to Yourself
We all have an inner voice. What we tell ourselves can affect our lives. If you’re calling yourself names or saying mean things about yourself, acknowledge that you are not being kind.
You deserve friends as much as anyone else, so start by being a friend to yourself. Don’t say things to yourself unless you would say them to someone you love dearly.
10- Consider the Legal Aspects of What’s Happening
Talking with an experienced attorney who understands what your next steps are is crucial during the separation period. If you don’t consider essential issues such as equitable distribution, child visitation and support, and alimony, you can lose out on your rights.
Taking the step to get started with your marital dissolution can help you feel empowered and accomplished. Taking action about your situation can give you a much-needed boost to take control of your life and keep moving forward!
What to Do After Your Husband Leaves You
Once you have started to deal with the initial shock and pain of your husband leaving, you will likely start to think about what comes next.
- If you have children, you will need to consider how they may be affected by the divorce and your custody and visitation arrangements.
- Alimony or spousal separation support might be something you need. Talk with your attorney to get the process started.
- You may also need to think about financial changes, such as whether you will need to sell the family home or how you will handle bills and expenses.
- Consider your estate planning issues, such as your last will and testament. You’ll also want to remove your ex from legal documents where he is your power of attorney or beneficiary.
Making these decisions can be difficult, but there are resources available to help you.
You may want to consider joining a support group for women who are going through divorce. Others going through similar circumstances can provide invaluable support. Connecting with other women who are experiencing similar challenges can help you see that you’re not alone.
No matter what comes next, remember that others care about what you’re going through. Seek out the help and support you need to get through this tough period in your life. You deserve it!
We Can Help
At Plekan Law, our divorce and family law team can help you navigate the legal process of protecting your rights during separation. We understand that this is a difficult time for you, so we work to ensure that the process is as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation and find out how we can help you.