Are you in shock?
The Shock of Divorce – Is this really happening?
The most common reaction to the news of divorce is shock. Depending on your natural disposition, you may withdraw from friends and family, or start to busy yourself in an effort not to deal with the situation at hand. In the first stages of divorce recovery it is not uncommon for people to withdraw from social activities that they once enjoyed. This may involve making little or no contact with friends and family. Social withdrawal may be tied to feelings of guilt, shame or embarrassment due to the situation at hand.
Another common way of dealing with shock is constantly keeping busy. If you are constantly on the go, you do not have time to stop and think about the divorce, the relationship, and the future. Both of these reactions prevent the next steps of healing after divorce—acceptance and adjustment.
Acceptance
Acceptance can feel like a long way off, but it begins – in small ways – when we accept that this is really happening to us can we then get on with healing and thriving after divorce.
How Divorce Recovery Workshop can help you move toward acceptance…
If you are dealing with the shock of divorce, we want you to know that these feelings are a normal part of the divorce process. Many before you have felt this exact same way, and these feelings are not a mark of anything other than the normal grieving process.
The Divorce Recovery Workshop is built to assist attendees in raising self-esteem to deal constructively with the reality of divorce and life issues that may hold us back from becoming the people we are meant to be. In this part of the Divorce Recovery Workshop, you will be able to:
- Take part in a small group discussion with people in a similar situation.
- Share common feelings and experiences with others.
- Discuss your divorce in a safe, non-judgmental environment .
Adjustment
Once accepting the reality of divorce begins, adjusting to divorce is the next step.
Transitioning to a new lifestyle is one of the biggest adjustments we can make after divorce. Adjustment requires taking action and making decisions while grieving the loss of the marriage, and can be a tremendously difficult time.
One important aspect of adjustment is mourning the end of the marriage. For some, mourning will mean remembering and missing the “good times” in marriage and looking forward to positive experiences ahead. For others, mourning will mean feeling negative, defeated and full of self-pity. Whether we go through a positive or negative mourning period, adjustment is the healthiest way to get life back in order. Recognizing the fact that we have to reevaluate and readjust to a totally different lifestyle – this happens in phases. But as you set new goals for life, you are taking a strong and positive step toward the future.
How Divorce Recovery Workshop can help you move toward adjustment…
The Divorce Recovery Workshop offers meaningful and practical ways to overcome the pain, anger, and hurt and to discover wholesome principles to find that there is happiness and fulfillment beyond the sadness and disruption of divorce.
During the adjustment phase of divorce, it is common to have both positive and negative thoughts about the divorce. Our goal is to give you tools to assist you in navigating your emotions in the most productive way. In this part of the Divorce Recovery Workshop, you will be able to:
- Hear ways others have managed their new responsibilities as a single person or single parent.
- Learn ways to deal productively with anger, sadness and/or self-pity.
- Discover how to balance your emotions while making important decisions regarding your new life.
- When used in addition to divorce therapy, this can significantly accelerate your healing process.
Growing through divorce
How can you learn from this? Can you – will you – be stronger because of your divorce? The veterans of Divorce Recovery Workshop will tell you that the answer is YES! Growth can and does begin after you have accepted and adjusted to your life after divorce. The storm is over; now it’s time to move on!
How can we help?
One of the most important aspects of growth is allowing yourself the time to heal from your divorce. Please believe this: You can learn from your divorce! Through self-reflection, guidance, and community, you can gain a deeper understanding of yourself – a huge benefit for life after divorce. Growing through divorce means learning from your past and looking ahead to the new life waiting for you. Like every healthy kind of growth, this is not an overnight miracle but a day-by-day process.
How Divorce Recovery Workshop can help you grow…
A recent DRW attendee said “the Workshop helped me learn strategies for getting on with my life.” That’s what we do. Everyone who attends DRW will be in a better place to move forward in a positive manner when the six-week workshop concludes. By the end of the Divorce Recovery Workshop, you will be able to:
- Learn to let go of the emotional baggage associated with your divorce.
- Understand your role in your relationship and divorce.
- Take responsibility in your divorce, no matter how big or small.
