Going through a divorce: How your friends and family can help
9th December, 2025
Going through a divorce can have a significant impact on your mental health as you begin to navigate a new normal way of life whilst looking after yourself and your children.
The divorce process can be lengthy and very complex. It can have a huge impact on your mental health, especially when dealing with high-conflict divorces. Understanding how to handle emotional burnout during a divorce by building a strong support network and taking care of yourself is crucial.
Working with expert divorce solicitors, like those on our team at Ward Hadaway, can help remove the weight of any legal stresses from your shoulders so you can focus on rebuilding your life post-divorce.
This article explores divorce and mental health, and how your friends and family can support you throughout this difficult time.
How a divorce can impact mental health
Going through a divorce or a civil partnership dissolution can be difficult. From organising a financial settlement and spousal maintenance to what happens to the family home and supporting children through a divorce, there are many things you need to consider.
The stress and pressure of sorting these things out can have an impact on your mental health. You may be worrying about how you will cope financially, or how you will support your children, particularly if you are navigating divorce with neurodiverse children who rely on routine, as well as finding it difficult to comprehend the breakdown of your relationship.
You may feel lonely or socially isolated, or experience symptoms of depression or anxiety, which can be scary. It’s important to implement ways to reduce stress during a divorce to protect your mental health. You are the main character in your own story and you need to look after yourself.
Confiding in a trusted family member or a close friend is crucial in supporting your mental health after a divorce, so they can be there for you as you navigate these big life changes.
Receiving support from your friends and family during a divorce
During a divorce, it is completely normal to feel unsure about who to turn to. You may be experiencing new feelings of loneliness and social isolation, anxiety and depression, a lack of self-identity or motivation. You may be worried about what the future holds.
As well as getting expert legal advice from our divorce solicitors, your friends and family can provide huge amounts of support for your mental health during a divorce.
Emotional encouragement
During a divorce, regardless of whether it was an amicable divorce or if you are divorcing a narcissist, you are going to require emotional encouragement and support from your loved ones.
Your friends and family will be by your side to offer a reminder that you are not alone through this process. They can keep you company so you aren’t alone, they can be a shoulder cry on, they can listen to your thoughts and feelings, but most of all, they can be a source of comfort for you as your life begins to change.
It is the job of your friends and family members to provide emotional support without judgement and acknowledge and validate the feelings you are experiencing during a divorce.
Help with practical tasks
Your divorce may leave you feeling the pressure of practical tasks that you must complete but are struggling to find motivation for.
Allow your friends and family to relieve some of the stress when they offer to handle childcare, bring you food or clean the house.
You may also feel stressed or anxious about court meetings relating to your divorce. Your friends and family can help you prepare for these meetings, as well as your divorce solicitor, but they can also accompany you to court to provide extra emotional support.
Your loved ones care about you, and even more so during a difficult life experience like going through a divorce. Although you may feel like you are a burden or you want to refrain from talking to them about your feelings, it’s important to remember that they want you to move on from this in the best way possible, and look after your mental health through the divorce process.
Looking after your mental health during a divorce
Although surrounding yourself with family and friends is hugely beneficial as you navigate the divorce process, looking after yourself is also very important.
There are several ways you can look after your own mental health. These include:
- Practicing self-care: take time to do things you enjoy, like reading or watching television shows, as well as taking up new hobbies.
- Exercising regularly: take regular walks, go running or to the gym to boost endorphins – this will help you feel better mentally.
- Acknowledging your feelings: it is normal to experience a range of feelings during a divorce, and it’s important to let yourself feel them. Keeping a journal can also help you navigate and understand your feelings.
- Establishing a routine: implementing a routine can bring a sense of control and normalcy to your everyday life.
- Joining support groups: although it may not feel like it, there are many other people in your situation. By joining a support group, you can safely talk about your feelings with others in the same position.
Establishing boundaries with your ex-partner and sticking to them as best as possible is also important, especially if you are co-parenting. To co-parent successfully, you should create a parenting agreement and ensure you have a good understanding of show to successfully co-parent. This is something our solicitors at Ward Hadaway can assist you with.
Getting professional help to support your mental health during a divorce
Friends and family members may also suggest working with a professional therapist to support your mental health during a divorce. Seeking professional support is another way to look after yourself.
You can attend these sessions alone or, in certain scenarios, with a family member or a friend. Allowing your family and friends to support you throughout this time is important; dealing with a divorce alone can be extremely difficult, especially if you have children to take care of.
Remember, your friends and family are there to support you and provide a helping hand during your divorce.
Ward Hadaway can support you during a divorce
Obtaining specialist legal advice and representation during a divorce is crucial, but is also an important step in looking after your mental health. You may be confused about what comes next, and require legal support that you cannot get from family and friends.
Our divorce solicitors at Ward Hadaway are family law experts who understand how heartbreaking it can be to go through a divorce. We are here to help you and ensure you feel thoroughly supported during this difficult time.
Please note that this briefing is designed to be informative, not advisory and represents our understanding of English law and practice as at the date indicated. We would always recommend that you should seek specific guidance on any particular legal issue.
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