Pain can be a double-edged sword. It hurts now. But it also adds the dismal feeling that it will always hurt. A person who is at the beginning of a separation or divorce may feel that their life will never be the way it was. It is hard to see in the moment that different doesn’t have to be bad. This realization may take time. And that is okay.
Allow yourself to feel whatever you are feeling. From sadness to anxiety, there is a reason for the emotion. Don’t keep it all inside. Talk to friends or channel your energy into a creative outlet. Some take up journaling. Getting their thoughts on to paper keeps them from cluttering their minds.
Another form of release is exercise. It doesn’t have to be an hour on the treadmill (unless you like that sort of thing). It can be aerobic dance or Pilates. Take time to discover something new. Go somewhere new – whether it’s a far off island or the quaint Italian restaurant you drive by every day. Pick up that hobby you used to do or always wanted to try.
And believe it or not, things will get better. You will feel normal again – even if normal doesn’t look the way it used to. The important thing is to not rush it. The healing process takes time – just as it would if you broke your leg. It may even take the help of a professional therapist. And don’t forget that laughter can be the best medicine.
