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How to Handle Depression After a Divorce

Divorce is painful for all parties involved. Oftentimes divorce can even lead to depression. If you begin to notice that you are not able to process the situation and that you are having trouble accepting it, you may be suffering from depression. Depression can also leave you feeling tired and alone. It is important that you do not ignore your depression, but work on coming out of it so that you can go on enjoying life and all it has to offer.

Things You'll Need

  • Support group
  • Counselor
  • Journal
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Instructions

    • 1

      Call your local hospital or look in your local newspaper to find a support group for divorced individuals. There you will find other people who are going through the same thing you are. Many of them may also be fighting depression. Having a group of people around you that understand what you are going through can help you handle the depression.

    • 2

      Find a good divorce counselor in your area. There is no shame in getting help from a professional if support groups are not enough. Keep in mind that the counseling doesn't have to be long term. Just long enough to get you out of your state of depression so that you can handle the divorce better.

    • 3

      Write in a journal each day. List the top five or 10 things you are thankful for that day. Focusing on the positive each day will help you overcome the negative. You may want to do this before you even get out of bed in the morning so that you start your day off right.

    • 4

      Remove any reminders of the marriage. This may include pictures, wedding gifts or anything that will cause you to dwell on the divorce when you look at it. You don't have to put away these items forever, just until you heal and can look back on them fondly--recollecting the good times.

    • 5

      Get active. Become a volunteer once or twice a week or schedule a night out with your friends every Saturday night. Getting active will help remind you that life goes on and there are many other possibilities out there. Your life will have purpose, and you will be able to handle any feelings of depression that come over you.

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