Did you know that the 28th of December is National Call A Friend Day?
This holiday, nestled in between Christmas and New Year, “reminds us all to take a few minutes, pick up the phone, and call that friend you’ve been meaning to get back in touch with.”
However, while this day is a great prompt and reminder to reach out, it’s important to build a network of support that you can rely on throughout the year – especially if you’re going through a divorce.
Why is a support network useful?
There are many reasons why it’s helpful to have a support network to fall back on during good times and bad. For example, your support network:
- Enables you to speak openly about your feelings.
- Helps fight feelings of isolation and loneliness.
- Provides you with a sense of community.
- Puts you in place to help others, too.
Enables you to speak openly about your feelings.
Speaking openly about how you are feeling is instrumental to your healing. This is because it’s only once we open up that we properly process our emotions instead of compartmentalizing (or outright ignoring them). To put it simply, “thwarting emotions is not good for mental or physical health. It’s like pressing on the gas and brakes of your car at the same time, creating an internal pressure cooker.”
By having a list of friends, family, and professionals to talk to, you no longer have to keep your feelings at bay. Reach out to those you feel as though you can be vulnerable around.
Remember, you do not have to talk with the intention of quickly resolving the issue at hand. In fact, it’s unlikely that a single conversation can do that – as your emotional recovery is an ongoing journey. Instead, you’re simply talking to let it all out, to give yourself breathing space, and to stop holding things in.
Helps fight feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Many people report feelings of loneliness during (and after) a divorce. After all, you often go from spending 24/7 with someone to cutting contact (or severely reducing it). You may even be living alone for the first time in years.
By having a support network of people – whether over the phone or in person – you’re fighting loneliness because there is always somebody ready to chat or pop around to your house. This can help you push away those feelings, while also stopping you from further isolating yourself by spending too much time alone.
Provides you with a sense of community
Your support network is a community within itself. After all, it’s a group of people who all care about the same thing: you! A sense of community can be incredibly beneficial when going through a divorce, as it proves that you are not alone.
This is particularly true if you join a Divorce Support Group, as you’ll be in direct contact with people who know exactly what you are going through.
This means that you can have open conversations without worrying about judgment or pity, knowing that you will be accepted and supported.
Puts you in a place to help others.
Sometimes, when we reach out to a friend – it’s because we know they need us. Building a support network also means that you can be there for others – whether they’re going through a divorce themselves or need a shoulder to cry on.
Furthermore, having people to rely on means that you can work through whatever is troubling you, putting you in a better position to help others. This is because you’ll have greater emotional clarity, meaning you’ll be able to provide advice and support without being caught up in your own feelings.
Who should I class as my support network?
Your support network can be made up of anyone you find supportive or helpful as you navigate your way through this time. This could include:
- Close friends, colleagues, and family members.
- Mental health professionals, such as therapists and counselors.
- Divorce attorneys who are helping you navigate your divorce.
- Other divorcees, such as members of a divorce support group.
If you’re going through a divorce, we’re here to help.
You go through every emotion during a divorce, and the process will likely stir up a lot of questions. While we don’t have all the answers, we are here for you.
Our approach to divorce is holistic. We don’t believe you or your partner should have to suffer through a complicated court case to separate – especially if it can be organized without stepping into a courtroom.
As such, we’ll help you navigate your divorce with as much peace and dignity as possible.
