Suppressed emotions, confusing feelings, unresolved issues, and broken hearts are typical by-products of going through the complicated process of separation or divorce. It can be a very traumatic experience for all parties involved. However, did you know that these instances are more likely to take a more significant toll on men’s emotional and mental health than women’s?

Why men find it harder to handle separation or divorce

There are various reasons for this gender bias regarding coping with a divorce or other relationship problems. For starters, men often have less social support to fall back on than women. So, even if they feel comfortable talking about the depth of their pain from the divorce, the lack of a safe place or societal expectations to behave a certain way often forces them to bottle up their emotions.

I see many male clients who have been conditioned to suppress their feelings for years. Consequently, they believe they are expected to be strong and macho in every situation. They often overlook the fact that they were equally invested in the relationship, so their pain and feelings are equally valid.

However, it doesn’t have to be this way. Don’t let one inappropriate relationship cloud your love life forever. Scroll down to learn what you can do to get past divorce or separation and how I can help you on the way through separation counseling.

Unable to find a healthy outlet for their pain and negative feelings from a divorce or breakup, some men spend years dealing with internal dilemmas independently. This results in various issues, some of which emerge later in life and create serious future relationship problems. Depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem are some other problems that may arise from unresolved feelings after a divorce or breakup.

Avoidance is not the solution

For my separation counseling practice, I have noticed that many men tend to avoid dealing with their emotional turmoil. Unfortunately, avoidance is never the solution. Numbing your pain with drugs, alcohol, work, or even rebound sex is not a healthy coping mechanism. Running away from your feelings will not help.

This is why male clients come to me with separation, divorce, or relationship issues; the first goal is to help them see the problem. Once you understand that your feelings are valid, your pain is accurate, and it won’t go away unless you deal with it – you will be ready to recover from the experience!

Identify and accept your emotions

Often, a wide range of emotions is involved when it comes to a breakup or divorce. Sadness, guilt, regret, hurt, anger, and jealousy are just a few most prominent ones. However, women express hurt and sadness in my experience, while men focus mainly on anger.

All the other emotions that are conveniently ignored can eventually take a toll on your mental health. So, once you accept the problem, the next step is to identify your emotions. A counselor like myself can help you in this regard.

Find meaning and purpose through this struggle

I encourage my clients to see separation or divorce as a transitional period. In other words, the silver lining is that you can use this experience to build stronger and better relationships in the future. You will learn a lot about yourself in the process, and this knowledge will propel you towards healthier relationships in the time to come.

These are just a few essential tips that can get you started on the path of recovery from divorce or separation. If you are a man who has suffered through a divorce or a bad breakup, make sure you don’t take the bottle-it-up or drink-it-away approach. Instead, reach out for help and take the time to understand how to handle separation or divorce the right way. You deserve to be happy, and I can help make sure this little bump in the road doesn’t keep you from having a happy and healthy love life.

It’s time you learn how to move past your divorce or breakup. Don’t suffer in silence. A better life is just around the corner. Seek separation counseling today and allow me to help you lead a contented life that is no longer clouded by a past relationship.