Going through a divorce can be one of the loneliest times in your life, especially if your ex-partner was your best friend. For that reason, it’s so important to create a support system who you can turn during this challenging time. Today we’re going to discuss the best ways to build a support system after divorce so that you can navigate entering into this new stage of your life with ease.
Turn to Your Friends and Family First
Hopefully, you have a good set of friends and family members outside of your past relationship. These should be the people that you turn to first, and they will want to support you during this difficult time. If you have children with your ex-partner, you may require extra assistance during this time. Speak to your parents or anyone else who might be willing to help, and tell them how they could be of most assistance. While it can be hard to share your feelings or ask for help after a divorce, you’ll find that most people will do absolutely anything they can to help you out. Send a message to your closest friends and family stating what they could do to help during this time, and you’ll soon find that they rally around you in support.
Join a Support Group
Not all of us are blessed to have family and friends living nearby. If that’s the case for you, we recommend signing up for a local support group. You’ll meet other people who are in a similar situation to yourself, and you’ll be able to bond over this. Most cities or towns have various support groups on offer, and you’ll want to find one which sounds most relevant to your needs. Aim to connect with people of a similar age to you, who may also be restarting their life unexpectedly. You’ll likely come out with a few new friends while also learning more about how to cope during this time in your life.
Be Selective with Who You Trust
While it can be so tempting to complain to anyone you meet about the challenges you are facing, we encourage you to be very mindful about who you trust during this time. This is especially true for friends who are still in contact with your ex, as you don’t know what will get back to them. Regardless of the circumstances of your divorce, we encourage you to always stay calm during difficult conversations about the past. Especially if you are co-parenting with your ex-partner, you’ll want to minimize tension between the two of you for the sake of your children.
Try New Activities
Is there something you always wanted to do but didn’t have the chance to do in your past relationship? Now is the time to put yourself out there and have a go at a new activity. This could be yoga, swimming, surfing, or knitting, but it just needs to be something you will really enjoy doing. When you sign up to a local group for your new activity, you’ll be able to connect with like-minded individuals and will make new friends in no time at all.
Creating a support system after a divorce is one of the most important things for anyone to do. Remember, you don’t have to go through this time alone, and by seeking out support, you’ll find that you are better equipped to overcome any challenges that come your way.
