Divorce is nowadays such a frequent occurrence that many of us are going to find ourselves needing to be supportive of a friend who is struggling to come to terms with their breakup. We may be in the unfortunate situation of needing some support ourselves.
Everyone is different and each of us experience loss and hurt in our own way. For some people they may be devastated that the love of their life has left them. Others may be relieved that their loveless ordeal is finally over. For some the breakup may mean public humiliation or financial hardship. There are many personal considerations that are unique to each situation.
Friendships can be severely tested when one person is dealing with the trauma of a breakup. They may become preoccupied, bitter, distraught as well as having many practical matters that take time and drain their emotional energy. Emotions often run high, tension can seem to be constant factor and it can feel like a never-ending crisis. It can be especially hard if you have been friends with both parties or appreciate the other person's point of view.
Let's look at some ways you can help a friend through their divorce.
- Listen. Sometimes it is important to let your friend have their say. They may need to vent and get things off their chest. People often feel better for simply having verbalized their distress. You may need to nothing except listen.
- Call time on the talking. If a friend becomes obsessed or preoccupied with their ex and constantly repeats old grievances over and over again, there can come a time when it is important to introduce other topics into the conversation. This does not disrespect their hurt. It simply allows them and you to have a break from the relentless hurt and pain and start to become more receptive to outside life.
- Encourage them to try counselling and hypnotherapy. If you feel that your friend has issues or bad habits that have been a factor in the divorce it can help to suggest that they address those problem areas. Counselling and hypnotherapy can help them start to resolve those areas, improve their understanding of the situation and have better prospects in any future relationships they may envisage.
- Try not to take sides. Being supportive and empathising with you friend is important but joining in and fuelling the situation is of no benefit to anyone. It may simply succeed in prolonging the anger.
- Consider the children. If your friend has custody of the children they may need help with entertaining them if they are unused to being with them alone. Fathers often find that having the children for set visitation periods is quite stressful at first. They want to make the times together as fun as possible but are inexperienced at entertaining the children alone and struggle with such an artificial situation. Mothers may need additional babysitting support at times, especially if they need to start working or want to go out for an occasional evening.
- Encourage good habits. When a person is distressed they may forget to take proper care of themselves. Encourage them to shop, eat, wash, sleep. It may help to invite them to stay with you for a little while if you are in a position to do so. Try to discourage excessive alcohol consumption. Alcohol is a depressant and can become a bad habit when a person is feeling low.
- Give support to outside interests. Healthy outside interests like sport, volunteer work, interests that include other people can be an important distraction. Often divorce gives people more free time which can mean more time to think and feel miserable.
Supporting a friend through their divorce can be an intensive time and quite draining. The phrase 'start as you mean to go on' can be useful to remember. In the initial days a person may need a lot of support, but as time goes on encourage them to become more independent, involve other friends and interests. That way you support a more positive basis for your friendship that respects both your lifestyles.
Susan Leigh is a Counsellor and Hypnotherapist who works with stressed individuals to promote confidence and self belief, with couples in crisis to improve communications and understanding and with business clients to support the health and motivation levels of individuals and teams.
Further help, advice and articles are available.
For more information see http://www.lifestyletherapy.net/
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