What are the five stages of grief in a divorce?

At Truce Law, we focus on the legal process of divorce so that you have the time to cope with the five emotional stages of divorce. Even when divorce is the best outcome for both parties, there are still a variety of emotions that may be experienced. Here are the typical five stages of divorce:

1. Denial: Refusal to accept the truth. 

The first emotional stage of divorce is denial. You may experience feelings of shock, confusion, or unhappiness and you believe that it will get better. In this stage, beliefs don’t always align with reality. 

1. Anger: Failure to understand why. 

It is normal to feel angry at your ex-spouse or yourself during a divorce. Particularly if the divorce was triggered by an event of rejection or betrayal. You cannot comprehend why the divorce is happening, and your emotions can begin to feel overwhelming. 

1. Bargaining: Defined by ‘What if?’.

In this stage, you start to question everything. What if we gave it another go? Should I have done more? How could things have been different? Could this have had a different ending? What you will learn, however, is no matter how much you ruminate on these scenarios, the outcome is unlikely to change.

1. Depression: Feeling empty, lonely, or lost. 

During a divorce, you can lose a sense of belonging or purpose. Many feel as though they lose their ‘place’ in society. You may feel detached or depressed, experiencing symptoms like loneliness, grief, sadness, or isolation. There are many mental health professionals that are experienced in working with divorcees that can help.

1. Acceptance: You feel whole again.

Finally, you begin to regain your self-confidence and inner peace. You know you’re going to be okay, and you feel optimistic about the future. You know you’re supported and accept that you are beginning a new chapter in life.

We ensure that all legal matters are handled so that you can spend time focusing on your personal needs.