Stress from any source can takes its toll on your mind and body. Divorce is said to be one of the most stressful experience of ones life so it is no surprise that your health may be impacted negatively and need time to recover.  Self Magazine’s, Robin Hilmantel, recently discussed six ways going through a divorce can impact your health:

1. Anxiety

Having some form of anxiety during your divorce is inevitable. Any time your life is turned upside down will cause some psychological problems. Think back to any major life event and how you felt going through…going away to college, getting marries, buying your first home, death of a loved one and of course divorce. The important part is to not allow the anxiety to take over your life and paralyze you from finding happiness again.

2. Depression

The author cites a 2013 study published in the journal Clinical Psychological Science, “seemed to confirm what may sound obvious: People going through a divorce might have a higher risk of experiencing depression. But not everyone sees a spike in their risk levels after a divorce—this mainly affects people who had already dealt with depression in the past.” The study showed that almost 60 percent of people who had depression in the past experience depression again during their divorce.

3. Sleep Issues

Many people can block out what is troubling them all day until their head hits their pillow and then their mind races with every detail of it. There is nothing more frustrating then being exhausted but not being able to sleep. Unfortunately, there is a connection between sleep problems and elevated blood pressure.

4. Heart Attack risk

The author discusses a study from a research team at Duke that found that divorce increases your risk of heart attack—especially if you’re a woman.  Men only saw a rise in their risks if they were divorced more then once, but women need only have one divorce to feel the same effects.

5. Health Insurance

Many people only have health insurance because it is provided by their spouse. After divorce, many are left without anything. With the high prices of private insurance and Obamacare, many going through a long period of time without insurance while going through a life experience that takes its toll on their health.

6. Long-term Effects

Robin Hilmantel concludes the article discussing a study published in the journal Gerontology which looked into the long-term effects divorce has on adults health. She states that, “Researchers found that the vast majority of people reported feeling better—both mentally and physically—by the time they’d reached the two-year mark after their divorces.”

If you are going through a divorce or custody case, you need someone you can trust to help you through the process. I can be reached by phone at 214-526-5234 or by email at [email protected]. Verner Brumley‘s principal office is located in Dallas, Texas.