After a divorce, parents need time to readjust to their new life. During this period you are going to make mistakes and you are going to stumble, however, you need to be careful that you don’t add more to your plate then you can handle. When you add too much to your plate you force yourself into situations that you may not be able to recover from.
During the first year after your divorce there are several things that you want to avoid. For example, you want to avoid drinking, smoking and jumping into a new relationship or new relationships. Now I’m not saying you can’t ever have a drink or ever go out on a date, what I am saying is that your emotional state is going to be unstable during this first year leaving you vulnerable to addictive behaviors that may not be good for you or your kids. This is why you need to take things slow during the first 12 to 18 months after your divorce.
As mentioned above, addictive behaviors are your enemy during a post-crisis situation, and work-a-holism is another form that addiction can take. Working 80 hours a week can be just as detrimental to your health and to the health of your family as drinking too much or smoking too much. After all, if you are spending all your energy on work, then you are not dealing with the issues in your life that need attention, like your kids and your emotional health.
Balance is going to be the key to a successful recovery from a divorce. Your kids will also benefit from a life of moderation during the turbulent year after the divorce. For more information about the recovery process, return to this blog each Friday.
