A family going through divorce or separation
Lila was a woman who did not believe in divorce. Lately, she had been arguing more with her husband, Mike. He had asked for a divorce, and she refused. Mike decided that he would move out. After a week of him out of the house, she received a letter from his solicitor. Infuriated, she began telling their two children that their father had abandoned them and what a horrible man he was. She decided that she would not co-operate, and Mike would never see his children again.
Lila hired her own solicitor, and in her court paperwork, she made false accusations that he had abused her and the children. The children started to believe that their father had hurt their mother. The children no longer wanted to see Mike or his family.
This hurt the children because they loved their father, and now, they thought he was abusive. They grieved their father and wondered how he could do that. They became angry with him and hated the part of their identity that was like his. Like his last name, his family, and even having the same eye colour as him.
This hurt Lila because the courts found out that the accusations were false. Lila and Mike spent over a year and hundreds of thousands of dollars on legal fees. Both were stressed and frustrated. The children both suffered psychological damage and had to undergo psychological treatment. The process had hurt the entire family.
Healthy ways to cope
If you are feeling hurt by a divorce or a separation, there are healthy ways to cope with anger, shame, and feelings of loss and trauma. Children must be able to have a healthy and secure relationship with both parents to be psychologically healthy. Children are resilient when they have adults that they can turn to. If a child feels like one parent will be hurt or angry if they talk to the other parent, they might feel conflicted and develop anxiety or depression. Your child is half you and half your partner. If this is something that you are struggling to reconcile mentally, it is best to seek professional health so that the children do not suffer.
**
If this is something, you have been through or are going through and would like to set up an online session, email info@doctormonicaborschel.com.
Photo by Mikail Duran on Unsplash
Although I am a registered clinical psychologist with the Hong Kong Society of Counseling and Psychology, I am not a licensed psychologist or any other type of licensed therapist in the United States. The information I am providing here is educational and informational. This social media page does not provide professional advice, nor does it create a professional-client relationship or any other type of relationship between us. You should always consult your own licensed mental health professional before making any changes regarding your mental health. My goal is to educate, guide, consult, and empower you regarding your mental health journey. Always consult your licensed mental healthcare provider(s) and never disregard or delay medical advice based on information posted on this page or post.