Since My Divorce

divorce advice | divorce support | divorce help | divorce coaching

  • Home
  • About Mandy
  • Story Catalog
  • Topics
    • Career and Work
    • Dating After Divorce
    • Getting Divorced
    • Infidelity
    • Legal Stuff
    • Money Matters
    • Solo Living
    • Parenting And Divorce
    • Your Ex
    • Wisdom From Divorce
  • Essential Reading
  • Contact
    • Sponsored Posts
You are here: Home / Solo Living / How To Cope With Divorce-Related Panic Attacks

How To Cope With Divorce-Related Panic Attacks

May 15, 2017 By Guest Leave a Comment

Guest Post by Jackie Edwards

divorce-related anxiety | divorce support | Since My DivorceIt can come out of nowhere. You could be swimming, walking the dog, or playing with your children when it hits you. You start to hyperventilate, experience chest pain and heart palpitations, a surge of overwhelming panic, shaking and trembling, trouble breathing, and a loss of control. You might even think it’s a heart attack. Instead, when you run to the doctor, you find out it is a panic attack brought on by your stressful divorce.

You are not alone. Around 30 to 40 percent of adults undergoing a divorce report a significant increase in symptoms associated with anxiety and depression according to the United States Surgeon General. Divorce is one of the worst stress and anxiety producing life changes because it creates low self-esteem, fear, and insecurity.

Panic Attacks Are a Normal Response to a Traumatic Event

As they try to figure out what is causing their physical symptoms, people with an anxiety disorder are up to five times more likely to go to the doctor. You may not necessarily have an anxiety disorder even if the unnerving feelings you are experiencing are an anxiety or panic attack. It may just be a normal anxiety response to divorce.

In her book “Triumph Over Fear”, Jerilyn Ross, M.A., L.I.C.S.W., points out that acute stress disorder is common in really shocking, traumatic events. It is appropriate and normal to have several weeks where you cry a lot, cannot sleep, or feel scared, hurt, frightened, abandoned, sad, and angry. All of this can be compounded when there are children involved or if you find out your ex was having an affair. Fortunately, there are non-pharmaceutical steps you can take to assuage the panic attacks.

Allow Yourself to Experience Emotions

It can be full of unknowns and frightening when you are facing a major life change. A broad array of emotions are brought to the surface, and anxiety is a normal part of that. This means that you need to let yourself mourn. Mourning looks different for different people. It could mean listening to your favorite music. It could mean lying in bed bawling your eyes out for half an hour. Go ahead and cry. Get angry. Write about your thoughts and feelings. Afterward, try to get out of the house and do something.

Speaking of your thoughts, be sure to observe what you are thinking. Whether you are sitting in the courthouse or your living room, your emotions can create a panic attack. When you are worrying about your divorce constantly, it can create a biochemical reaction. As your adrenaline rushes, your heart beats faster, and your mind races. When this happens, question whether your thoughts are productive. Are they helping you? What would help you more?

Develop Anxiety Management Tools

Ironically, the first things to go to the wayside when we are anxious are the things that we typically do to help us feel good. This includes eating well, socializing, and exercising. These are the precise activities that you need to engage in to keep stress and other nasty feelings at bay. A few things you can do to beat back the anxiety include:

  • Work at going to bed at the same time every night
  • Go for a walk
  • Take some slow deep breaths
  • Exercise
  • Stock up on fruits and vegetables
  • Sign up for a yoga class (or even surf YouTube for yoga videos)
  • Keep a diary to record your triumphs. You can define triumphs in your own way. For example, a major accomplishment on some days may simply be cooking a real meal. Celebrate stuff like taking a shower, and paste some gold stars in your journal. Learn to love who you are.

You Are Not Alone

When you have strong social support, you are less vulnerable to panic attacks. Yes, divorce does destroy the entire dynamic of a family. However, there are still people you can count on. Call them, and get together with them regularly. In the process, expand your social network. When you engage in activities you are interested in, you will naturally meet people with similar interests. This will take your mind off of your situation.

Remember: there are plenty of people and resources available to you. You are not the first person to experience divorce-related panic attacks, and you do not have to go at it alone. You can do this.

Now working as a writer, Jackie started her career in health and social care, but after becoming a mom refocused and decided to spend more time with her family. When she’s not writing, she volunteers for a number of local mental health charities and also has a menagerie of pets to look after including a cheeky cat called Bertie.

Filed Under: Solo Living

« How To Help Your Child Overcome Their Anxiety About Your Divorce
How To Help Your Children Adjust To Your Remarriage »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Favorite Posts

•How To Be Smart About Dividing Your Household Items In Divorce
•What Happens When Marriages Suddenly End
•When Your Spouse Says I Don't Love You
•I Wish My Husband Would Die
•Are You Tolerating A Sexless Marriage?

Review Posts

•Worthy - The Best Option For Selling Your Diamond After Divorce
•Our Family Wizard App Review - Co-parenting Communications

Podcast

Follow me!

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on Twitter

Looking for something?

Try my Essential Reading, browsing through my Story Catalog or use the search box below.

Archives

The Official Stuff

Disclosures

Privacy Policy

Terms And Conditions

Copyright © 2022 Walker Business Ventures LLC/Since My Divorce