At our law firm, we have years of experience that give us insight into the full range of emotions our clients go through from the time it becomes apparent a marriage is on the rocks and throughout the divorce process. From the moment a client first contacts us until the divorce is over, we are aware of the depth of emotion that may be occurring. We provide information, guidance, support and understanding to help our divorcing clients, who may feel intense stress, anxiety and even fear.
The online magazine Fatherly recently published an insightful piece that looks at emotions a variety of divorced men experienced. Their stories confirm not only that feelings vary among divorcing people, but also that they can frequently change during the process.
Fatherly interviewed “Andy” from Illinois, whose experience was relatively positive because filing for divorce brought relief that allowed him to put negative marital experiences behind him. He emphasized that he felt he could be a better parent outside the marriage.
Some of the other emotional reactions include:
- Surrender
- Regret
- Guilt
- Shame
- Shock
- Surprise
- Grief
- Embarrassment
- Anger
- Disbelief
- Control
- Encouragement
- Confidence
- Gratitude
- Depression
- Seriousness
- Conflicted
- Unsettled
- Heartbroken
- Devastated
- Hopeful
- Trauma
- Bitterness
- Hostility
- Guarded
- And more
It is noteworthy that more of these emotions are negative, but not all. Ultimately, most divorcing people eventually find peace of mind with their new situation. It can bring relief to put behind them whatever it was that pushed their marriages out of balance and look forward to new futures.