Six Phases of Divorce Emotions

Six Phases of Divorce Emotions

Estimated Reading Time: 2 min 50 sec 
Divorce is a shock to the system even if getting divorced was your idea. When it finally becomes a reality that your marriage is ending, it is common to feel even more unbalanced than your spouse in coping with divorce emotions. Divorce-triggered emotions fall into three groups: anger and revenge, guilt and shame, and fear and anxiety, as pointed out by Lorena Cardama of Thrive Global. Whatever divorce emotions you may be feeling, know that there's a method to this madness. You tend to experience certain divorce emotions in six distinct phases...with the final one being "ahhhh.".

This list best describes the order of divorce emotions from the perspective of the “receiver” (the spouse who is told “I want a divorce”), but is also relevant for the “deliverer” (the spouse who requests the divorce).

Book a Consultation

Six Phases of Divorce Emotions

Denial

Emotional woman during a divorce

You find it hard to believe this is happening to you. You refuse to accept that the relationship is over and struggle with trying to find solutions to the marital problems. You spend time believing that if you do or say the right thing your spouse will come back to you. You hate feeling out of control of the destiny of your marriage. You will be convinced that divorce is not the solution to marital problems.

Shock

You will feel panic, rage, and numbness. You may feel like you are going crazy. You will swing between despair that your marriage is over and hope that it will be restored. It will seem impossible to cope with these feelings.

You will experience some common fears when thinking about your future alone. You will wonder how you are going to survive. Will you ever find love again? Will the pain ever end. Will you feel this way the rest of your life?

Rollercoaster

You can’t seem to settle your feelings and thoughts. You swing from being hopeful to feeling utter despair. During this stage, you will try to intellectualize what has happened. If you can only understand what is going on then the pain will go away and all will make sense again.

You will tell yourself stories to try to make sense of what is happening and your imagination will run wild. You will wonder if there was more you could have done, or if there is something wrong with you. Maybe your spouse never even loved you. You will wonder if your entire marriage was a lie.

Bargaining

Hands resting on a railing overlooking a riverYou are still holding onto the hope that your marriage will be restored. There is a willingness to change anything about yourself or do anything that is asked if you could just get your spouse to come back to you. The important thing to learn during this stage is that you can’t control the thoughts, desires or actions of another human being.

Letting Go

During this stage you will finally realize that the marriage is over, that there is nothing you can do or say to change your new reality. You will become more willing to forgive the faults of your ex-spouse and take responsibility for your part in the breakdown of the marriage. You will begin to feel a sense of liberation and some hope for the future.

Acceptance

The obsessive thoughts have stopped. The need to heal your marriage is behind you. You begin to feel as if you can and will have a fulfilling life. Suddenly you are looking ahead and not behind you. You are making plans for your future and following through with them.

Read: Divorce pain and stress: 8 tips for feeling better

Woman dancing outside during sunsetThis is a period of growth where you will discover that you have strengths, talents, and interests that you didn't even know existed. Your pain gives way to hope. You discover that there is life after divorce...and that the future is indeed bright.