Engaging in Addictive Behaviors During Divorce

Even in the best of circumstances, divorce is a traumatic life experience. Unfortunately, many people turn to addictive behaviors like drugs and gambling in an attempt to cope with the trauma. Instead of taking care of themselves with healthy activities like yoga, meditation, or professional mental counseling, newly divorced individuals can sometimes regress towards self-destructive behaviors.

A Look at the Facts

The data say it all when it comes to understanding divorce and risky behaviors.

• Divorced and separated adults get less sleep on average than do married couples.
• Divorced and separated women tend to be more overweight than married women.
• Men are more likely than women to turn to drinking after divorce, according to the American Sociological Association.
• Although not a cause, divorce has been described as a catalyst for gambling addiction by some experts.

Turning to Healthier Solutions

If it were easy to transition to a healthy lifestyle after divorce, you wouldn’t see so many newly-separated people suffering from self-destructive behaviors. It’s going to be very difficult, and it won’t happen overnight, but the first step is to look inward and find the root of the problem. Why do you turn to these types of behaviors when coping with a difficult situation? A psychiatrist can guide you through the answers, since you likely have several unresolved issues still bottled up from the divorce.

Divorced individuals with children have an even greater responsibility to find healthier ways to cope with the process, and the aftermath. In fact, you can all support each other throughout the healing process by attending group therapy sessions, discussing your thoughts and emotions openly, and sticking to a healthy lifestyle routine. Remember that divorce also affects children in significant ways, but the best way to counter some of the more negative effects is to support one another and keep all lines of communication open.

For compassionate and experienced legal help in your California divorce, please call the Law Offices of Silky Sahnan at 888-228-1098 to set up a confidential consultation.