Post-Trauma

Can You Get Them to Marry Again? What REALLY Happens When Marrying After Divorce is a Deal Breaker.

February 3, 2018

What happens when the marriage thing is a No-Go? Are you the partner ready for love, completely committed and eager for them to say “yes” to a lifetime contract? Or are you the one who’s still reeling… I mean healing, after having suffered through a divorce or two?

The conflict between those who want a marriage commitment and those who are still suffering from Post-Traumatic Divorce Disorder™ creates a big chasm when it comes to personal needs, values, desires, and fear. Coupling up after divorce isn’t as romantic as one wants to believe especially when you don’t understand what you’re up against. Still thinking you can get them to marry you? I argue you can’t.

If you’re the one dating the divorcé, you’re going to want to understand what you’re up against.

There’s no amount of nursing that will take a broken-hearted, angry, scared individual and magically be the one who’ll make them view their futures differently. It takes way more perspective and work then you’re aware of. Wide-eyed and in love, you think your love will heal the broken-hearted man or woman you’re with. I remember those feelings acutely… all I wanted to do was love him to health. Boy was I wrong!

The reason isn’t that you don’t love them or that they don’t love you. The problem is that they’re operating from a different set of rules. The problem is that we, as a culture, have yet to grasp a universal process for the loss, loneliness, and grief that divorce brings. This loss affects everyone going through the experience – young, old, wealthy or not, any color – there’s no race parameters for divorce – a parent or not. The process for overcoming Post-Traumatic Divorce Disorder™ has nothing to do with falling in love again. That’s why you won’t get them to marry you. And why dating a wounded divorced individual is such a painful kind of love.

You have to think long and hard about sacrificing your values and needs in order to keep them comfortable and safe.

Relationships aren’t supposed to be safe from our heart-centered fears. They’re supposed to help us open up, help us step into the strength of our vulnerability and overcome our most cherished doubts. That’s a tall order for someone who’s just had their broken-heart dragged through a courtroom or mediator’s office.

As a divorcé, you’re going to be cautious about falling in love. Those fragile whispers of “I love you” have nothing to do with the passion of having sex. You can easily connect sexually. You may even truly enjoy your partner’s love, affection, and attention. You may even be saying, “I love you.” But when confronted with their need to marry, to commit, that’s when your fears raise their ugly head.

You think something’s wrong with you. You imagine you’re broken (well you are but only in the heart). In truth, you’re more confused, overwhelmed, scared than you are damaged. There’s nothing inherently wrong with you that another divorced adult can’t grasp. The problem isn’t that you’re the one who’s wrong or that your lover is wrong. It’s just that you’re the one who has to do the work to heal. To put yourself squarely in the face of your pain and deal with it in a safe environment.

The loneliness, loss, and pain of divorce do not automatically go away with a new lover, a promotion at work or a new home and even a new family.

Divorce doesn’t work that way. And up until now, rarely do we talk about that fact. We just assume, if we’re still scared, there’s something wrong with us. Nothing could be further from the truth!

As the one in love with a broken-hearted divorcé, all you want is to have your love and affection for them, your support and understanding to be enough.

Sure you love the passion, especially since they probably came out of a sexless marriage. But you don’t understand why you feel this underlying anxiety. You’re confused by their on-again, off-again attention, why they seem totally there in person but disappear when you’re out of sight.

When you date a man or woman who’s gone through or is going through a difficult divorce, you become the respite from their anger and fighting. You’re the distraction from the disappointment and pain of breaking up a family. You’re the playmate for a fun weekend away, playing hooky from the office or a romantic evening away from their kids. You help them immensely since the stress of a divorce can take down the strongest among us.

As the playmate, the distraction, their feelings for you are real. Genuine even. However, the pace with which you want that commitment to come and the time it takes to heal their hearts (if they’re doing any sort of work, to begin with) will not be in sync. Most of the time, you’ll be the one who suffers waiting. You’ll want to be understanding and compassionate, to not make waves and to tolerate their emotional unavailability. You’ll talk yourself out of that gut feeling, you’ll bend over backward even more to keep their attention.

There’s little more you can do.

You see it’s not you. You’re lovely; kind, warm, understanding. You’re probably terrific with their kids and great with their parents. Their friends think you’re the best thing for them… much better than the spouse they just left. If they let you meet their inner circle.

With divorce, shame and fear get to run rampant. You can’t shake a divorcée’s inner beliefs. You can’t redefine how they view the breakup of their marriages or their families. That’s their inner healing work to do. The truth is, that when you’re the distraction, you also can’t be the one who calls them on their stuff. It doesn’t work that way and that’s the anxiety you’re feeling. You know that to be true.

When you’re in love with someone healing from Post-Traumatic Divorce Disorder™ when you love a man or woman struggling with separation and divorce; when you see their best but can’t get them to commit to you for the rest of your lives, do your best to let go. Until this person you love commits to figuring out how to heal, they can’t be there for you emotionally. Would you have a pitcher with a broken right arm be pitching in the Championship game? Didn’t think so.

People coming out of a divorce are deeply wounded. They need love and affection. They need others to be patient and kind. But in truth, they also need to decide to heal, to take down the mask of perfection and allow the feelings of vulnerability to be exposed so that they can heal their broken heart.

Choosing to do so is a personal decision and the longer a divorcé is distracted and having fun, the longer it’ll take for them to feel the pain and loss and get to work to feel better. I’m a big fan of doing the healing work and putting a failed marriage into perspective even as it’s dissolving. That way, when a divorcée does fall in love, there’s a real chance at a lasting union and an open willingness to say “I do” again.

Laura Bonarrigo is a Certified Life Coach and a Certified Divorce Coach at laurabonarrigo.com. Laura’s a writer, public speaker and the founder of doingDivorce™ School an online coaching program for those ready to shed the pain of divorce. For empowering and practical ways to lose the identity of your past, visit www.doingDivorceSchool.com and laurabonarrigo.com.

Feel Like Your Ex Is Stalking You On Facebook? It’s Time To Start Blocking People

January 12, 2018

Social Media is a great way to brag about your life. Most people use it to show off, to seek attention, to connect with warm and fuzzy kitty pictures and to spy on the best looking guy or gal from High School. I use social media for my coaching work and still prefer the telephone to connect with friends. But for most people, it’s instant messaging all the way! So what happens when that Ex is lurking behind the blocked avatar? Who’s that handsome dude wanting your attention on IG? Most of the time, no one real (it took a few scammers for me to learn that tactic). And then there’s your kids’ father or that girl you still pine for. What happens when they’re all over you and wanting your attention? You learn to set some really clear boundaries!

It went like this for me. He wanted to date me. He repeatedly asked me out. He’d show up at events we had in common. He wouldn’t take “no” for an answer and he got upset when I had to say things like, “you’re not my type” when he didn’t believe I really wasn’t dating. It was like swatting flies on a hot summer day but more emotionally upsetting. He would not leave me alone.

And because I was afraid to hurt his feelings, I wasn’t comfortable with blocking him. It took the comments on my Facebook thread that finally sent me to anger. And I learned a valuable lesson.

Anyone going through a heartbreak, a relationship ending, a divorce knows how painful it is to be rejected or to hear bad things said about them. And I’m no different. As an actress, I heard lots of bad things said but we didn’t have the speed and intensity of social media. I would ignore a weird fan or send the lingerie, keys, and money to ABC’s security and I would ask for help as I was leaving the studio and security would manage the fans outside. But with social media, as a coach, as a divorcee who has had a lot of stuff said about her, I had to learn that boundaries – my setting them – are where I step into protecting me: my mind, my heart, my spirit, my body, my children.

So if that lurking, spying Ex feels way too close, I’m giving you permission to change your settings. This seems so simple! Such valuable advice. But what I’ve found is that my clients wrestle with this as well. All the time.

We’re so afraid of hurting someone’s feelings. Upsetting them, of not being nice. We’re worried that they’ll bad mouth us or react in a negative way. And most of the time, your gut instinct is probably right – they will. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t block them. Harassment on social media or on your message app is real and you have a right not to be harassed by someone lurking behind your thread.

What are your really doing when you block someone?

Un-friending is exactly that. You’re un-friending someone you once loved or wanted to love or who wanted to love you.

You will feel an energetic release just the way you felt their lurking. Getting attention form unhealthy people means you’re continuing to set yourself up for unhealthy relationships. You’re making the decision that ‘you can handle it’ when in fact, you can’t.

We are energetic beings who connect with others. It takes a lot to put up boundaries and to keep bad people out. But it’s easier once you start doing so. And you will feel a palpable shift when you do.

A recent client of mine was constantly on the receiving end of some pretty disgusting texts and comments on their thread. It took a few conversations until they were willing to put themselves first, to stop the harassment and to put up safe boundaries. This included blocking mutual friends and family relations.

This is an important declaration. When you decide that your life matters, that your mind is yours to manage, that your heart is ready for healing and that you really can’t handle the mean-spirited antagonism, then you’re onto healthy relationships. Up until then, you’re fooling yourself. No one can handle the onslaught of negativity. And social media hiding lets it all hang out.

Personally, with my divorce coaching Facebook and IG pages, I’ve had to ban, block, delete, unfriend and not accept a lot of people. My blocked list has a host of names. Not because I don’t want to help them heal, but because they’re so angry and mean I’m not the teacher for them. I can’t be somebody’s punching bag and I don’t want those who’ve hurt me in the past to have the privilege of knowing me now.

That’s the next step in personal healing. If you consider yourself a good person, if you’re willing to take responsibility for your part in the breakup, if you’re doing your healing work and gaining wisdom and softening your heart instead of building arguments and walls, then why in the world would you want someone who’s hurt you in the past to find a way to you now?

They don’t get you.

And it’s worth everything to keep it that way. What you have to offer the world is your energy, your heart, your generosity. When you’re ready to forgive yourself for your part in the breakup, you free yourself to love again. But for those who want to keep you in your victim role, for those who want to spy on how you’re doing, their goal isn’t to support you. It never was!

So it’s time to decide to protect yourself. If you’re a parent and your children’s other parent is the person who’s still ghosting and spying on you, this is what I recommend:

join a third-party app like www.ourfamilywizard.com or www.2houses.com. It is completely worth the small investment to free yourself up from hearing from your Ex the moment they’re angry with you.
block them on your messenger app. You are not someone’s punching bag.
give your child their own phone to contact you and stop relying (or trying to control) the calls and conversations between your children and your Ex
delete your Ex from your contacts and remove them from all social media
memorize that phone number for when you need to make contact.
stick to using that third-party app, not your email threads
keep everything in writing in case they take you back to court.

If you’re finding these suggestions difficult, notice the feelings and be wary of what you’re telling yourself. There is no real reason why you must remain in contact with an Ex. It’s never about parenting concerns or worries. It’s not about what they will think of you. It’s always about you, stepping into taking care of yourself. If you’re having trouble with doing so, doingDivorce™ School is open for the January – March program. Space is limited so apply now. You might want to check it out if you’re feeling stuck.

Changing patterns is not easy to do on your own. You’ll need a coach to see your blind spots and a community to support you. As you make the decision to protect your future, you will stop the drama and harassment of the past.

Laura Bonarrigo is a Certified Life Coach and a Certified Divorce Coach at laurabonarrigo.com. Laura’s a writer, public speaker and the founder of doingDivorce School an online coaching program for those ready to shed the pain of divorce. For empowering and practical ways to lose the identity of your past, visit www.doingDivorceSchool.com and laurabonarrigo.com. Be sure to visit https://m.me/laurabonarrigocoach?ref=Live

How To Prepare For Seeing Your Ex Without It Ripping Your Heart Out

January 5, 2018

I still struggle sometimes with romantic fantasies that take up space in my mind. I still think about him (not necessarily the him you may think I’m talking about but the one who broke my heart and is still, years later, my biggest teacher. There were moments after our breakup that repeatedly sent me into spasms of pain. I ended that relationship, not because I didn’t love him but because I could no longer tolerate lying, cheating, and the gas lighting. However, to this day, if he were to be in my presence, seeing him, just might rip my heart out. It would certainly take everything I had: minding my mind, preparing an escape route, words to say or not to say, and friends to physically keep me away from him; to help me get through the experience without completely falling apart. Are you with me? Do you get what I’m talking about? So how do you prepare for seeing your ex without it ripping your heart out? Let’s explore some things that work and somethings that don’t!

First off, the things that DON’T work:

Social Media Stalking: you can’t stalk them on Facebook, Twitter, IG or any other internet, social media platform you two shared. I’m a BIG proponent of blocking, unfriending, deleting, and muting. I have to. If I don’t block them, I have found, I will end up on a cold winter’s night going down the rabbit hole of internet Hell. I have been known to destroy a perfectly nice evening or two out of boredom and curiosity more than once since that breakup. I tell myself, it’s just a quick peek and then, hours later, I’m in a puddle of tears feeling sad and sorry for myself. So my advice… do everything you can to disconnect from them online. And then, hold yourself to not looking, lurking, stalking or tracking down their friends. Don’t do it. In the scheme of things, this is a small but mighty step but it’s not very easy!

If you can’t stop looking at them online, you don’t stand a chance of seeing them in person without it ripping your heart out!

Start small.

Things that take some time before you can handle them:

Visiting the places you two frequented together. I had a client who loved going to the beaches in CA with his lover. They shared fun, romantic times in the sand and surf (who wouldn’t!?!) After she moved out, he falsely thought he could handle going there alone. Then the emotions got stirred up and it took weeks for the feelings to calm down again! I completely sympathized with his pain and it made perfect sense. Those places were intimately tied to the love he experienced there. I admit, there are certain parts of Florida and New York City or LA that used to haunt me because of the memories I shared with a lover. I know the exact spot in Central Park where I got that particular kiss! But yet, cities, restaurants, the roads you walked down together, the movie theater or beach shouldn’t hold you hostage to memories, fantasies or desires. So what do you do?

I recommend taking some time before venturing back, bringing along a good friend or girding yourself for the effort it’ll take to reclaim the streets and places you once knew with them. This is what I do: I avoid certain places in NYC (mostly for fear of running into him) and when I feel emotionally ready to tackle the reclaiming part, I gather my strength and walk the streets, go into the shops, sit and eat in the restaurants, visit the places I went to with him… At first, I might do this with a good friend admitting perhaps, that I need a little help. If I go alone, I prepare myself! I see him in my mind, I remember what I did, how I felt, I declare (to myself in case anyone might call me crazy) that this is my town (restaurant, movie theater, etc) too and that I have a right to be there.

I literally retrace our steps. Not to rip the bandage off my heart but to declare to the universe that I have a right to this place too. And it works! I have reclaimed parts of NYC, other cities, restaurants, theme parks, beaches, movie theaters, even trains! These days those exact same locations no longer cause me pain. I have new(er) memories and get to enjoy the places I learned to love.

Each of us has the right to be happy wherever we want, it simply takes a little time before the heart is strong enough to experience the grief and help you make a new history.

So, you’re a bit stronger and you have to see them… how do you prepare yourself for this big moment?

Get ready for an emotional hit!

Your mind and body are going to be hit with a slew of feelings and sensations… let’s get real: you’re going to have a lot of fantasies! You’re going to think about saying all the things you ever wanted to creating your own reality TV series in your head. You’ll rival the leads of the ‘housewife series’ and imagine embarrassing them, their new dates, their new spouses; you’ll imagine hitting them, hurting them, kissing them, ripping off their clothes. But usually, sorry, none of these things will really happen. (Unless you’re on the ‘housewife series…’)

You will, however, fantasize A LOT so be prepared for lots of crazy thoughts in your head. You’ll also probably experience physiological reactions… getting turned on, blush, begin perspiring; you might even like I did, have time completely and utterly s-l-o-w down when you see them as if everything is happening in slow motion. You will cover your eyes with sunglasses, try to hide, avoid their eyes, stare at their chests, their feet, but yet still notice every single detail of what they’re doing, where they’re standing and who they’re with. Your entire system will be on alert… not because you want to jump their bones (though you may want to) but because they’re dangerous to you!

Your entire system is going to protect you and protection takes all our senses when we have a real enemy in front of us.

But, you’re still in love with them you say! You want them in your arms and in your bed. You don’t hate them, don’t want to commit illegal and immoral acts against them (the way I wanted to) you’re in pain and you wish they would just take you back into their arms and make mad, passionate love to you the way it once was.

Sure you do.

All of you or just the scared part? All of you or the part that’s so frightened and hurt (not just by them but by every relationship you’ve ever had going back to the love you didn’t get from mom or dad). I’m serious about this. Let’s ground ourselves in the truth.

The relationship ended not because they’re your soulmate but for a slew of other reasons that you’ve thought about and dealt with long before it actually ended. Even if you were blindsided by facts the way I was. Because behind all the lies and tears, all the drama I put myself through and all the love I thought I was experiencing were things my soul and my heart knew that my head totally ignored or thought I could control and overcome. Are you still with me? We all do this to ourselves – over and over and over again. Until we stop.

Mind your mind: your mind is a foolish part of you. There I said it! Your mind will play tricks on you, cause you to dream, cause you to feel victimized and then justify the sadness you’re enduring. It’s going to hurt to see them and you need to make your mind your ally, not your enemy. This is a lot harder than we mere humans have learned.

Ignore the turn-on: your body is going to react to seeing them. Seriously. Hard, wet, swirly, girly, puffing out your chest… anything and everything is going to be on alert when you see them and you’re going to have to ignore every one of those sensations. You can’t sleep with them no matter how flirtatious or kind; no matter the apology or their interest in you. You must walk away. My friend calls it quicksand… you have to grab the rope of sanity and keep yourself on dry land. It’s tough. But if you succumb to a romp in the hay, you’d might as well start all over again.

Waiting for that apology: once a heart is broken, you think the only person who can mend it is the person who left or who hurt you and that’s the last person who can truly help you. It’s just not fair but what your ego wants is that apology whereas, what your heart wants, is for you to stay far, far away from them. It’s this duality that’s going on inside. We think we need them to grovel and come back or beg us to come back but that’s just those fantasies again. So the apology isn’t from them. The apology you need is the one you give yourself for loving someone who could hurt you so badly. It’s a sobering personal moment.

Be prepared for the grieving: your heart is going to hurt when you see them, especially if they’re your most important teacher. I hate to admit this to you. I wish I could write that you’re going to be fine. You will be. Eventually. At first, the first few times you see them, it’s really going to throw you, so stay away from them as long as you can. Even if they’re the other parent to your children. (I do everything I can to stay away from those who hurt me – why throw salt on a wound?) But when you do see them, know you’ll have a slew of feelings and physiological sensations and then, over time, as you heal, as you gain greater clarity and wisdom, it’ll get easier and easier.

Will you ever be able to handle it? Yes. Over and over again as you heal and feel better about the ending of something that wasn’t supposed to work out in the first place. Will you love them still? Even a little? Possibly. Probably. But not to the degree you once did. And as you heal, as you put your life together again, you’ll be able to see them without falling apart. The last time I saw him, it still hurt a little but he looked bloated, stressed, and unhealthy and the turn-on was gone. As I’ve created a new life for myself and took back those streets and restaurants, I realized if he didn’t want to be my true love, why in the world would I spend any more time thinking about him?

Want more? Be sure to visit https://m.me/laurabonarrigocoach?ref=Live

doingDivorce™ School opens next week. Class size is limited. Apply at www.doingDivorceSchool.com

Laura Bonarrigo is a Certified Life Coach and a Certified Divorce Coach at laurabonarrigo.com. Laura’s a writer, public speaker and the founder of doingDivorce™ School an online coaching program for those ready to shed the pain of divorce. For empowering and practical ways to lose the identity of your past, visit www.doingDivorceSchool.com and laurabonarrigo.com.

3 Personal Tips For Coping With Divorce Due To Infidelity

November 3, 2017

The experience of coping with divorce because of infidelity is hard to do. It eats at our psyche long after a divorce decree is signed and makes us question everything: our sex appeal, our judgment, our willingness to open our hearts and minds to loving again. It makes us feel less-than easily harming self-esteem and self-worth. Sometimes, it’s not so much the actual affair in and of itself that hurts, as much as the on-going betrayal and lies that occurred. As adults, many of us have had transactional sex and many marriages are salvaged and made better even after short-term affairs. The difficult part with infidelity is coping with the betrayal – the lies and manipulation that one’s most intimate friend and partner created to sustain their actions and justify what they were doing over a long period of time. This is when infidelity cuts deep and hope for a happy future is left behind.

We are fascinated with other people.

We’re deeply involved with the lives of our spouses. I’ve found that after infidelity and divorce, there is this on-going, obsessive thinking loop about what and why and how and when the cheating partner broke marital vows and broke up a marriage. This thinking and ensuing feelings go on a really long time without intervention and perspective. It becomes it’s own self-perpetuating habit and affects everything like binge-watching Netflix in the family kitchen during dinner.

It’s important to put things in a big perspective and pull your attention back from them. They are gone. They were a cheater. They lied, wove stories, manipulated, controlled. It was for a lot of reasons including for a rush of power and control. Sometimes it verges on being sociopathic. Sometimes it’s narcissistic. Sometimes it’s simply mean or the only way to end something that wasn’t working on a very deep level.

For those left in the wake of infidelity, I encourage seeking good help. Your future self-needs some hope and optimism. It’s time to stop the anger, worrying, and righteousness; the habitual self-criticism and shift the focus back from them to your own heart and mind and spirit and life. Easier said than done. There’s no shortcut to healing a broken heart and the loss of trust that infidelity creates. Self-discipline over how you think about yourself, how you talk to yourself, and what you do to yourself and others, as a result, is part of the healing.

Daily, consistent, sustained effort:

Every day you’ll be plagued with questions of how they did it and why; what it meant or means about you as a lover, a person, a co-parent. If you’re not disciplined, you’ll obsess for hours on end. You’ll want to seek revenge (even if you don’t do anything about your fantasies) and you’ll want to use your children to get even. To punish. If you’re not careful, you’ll be asking, “why should they see your kids when they broke up the family?” The self-righteousness will eat at you if you let it. This is an important reason why caring for yourself is so necessary. And giving yourself a safe place to process is critical.

You matter:

Pulling the attention away from them and back on to you while you’re dealing with a new life is difficult. You won’t feel worthy of being important. You’ll make excuses about how much work you have to do and how you have to do everything for your kids. Remember, you matter. You’re entitled to have fun, to laugh, and to smile. Hope is available even when you’re having a tough day!

Eventually, you may even be embarrassed (or ashamed) about admitting you’re grateful to have a new chance at life, at love. Regardless, it’s true. You have a right to a great life with someone, if you wish, who can respect and cherish you more than they care about themselves.

Knowing all this is one thing. It’s easy to say the right things to your friends and family on a good day when you know how to get them to leave you alone. Anxiety creeps in during the quiet moments. Usually late at night or when the kids are with their other parent. Those are the moments to be extra careful and kind to yourself, wary of habitual thoughts or feelings that find their way in when you’re supposed to be relaxed.

These were the hours I worked extra hard at self-discipline and managing my thoughts and feelings. I processed by writing, giving myself permission to feel the things I didn’t want to. It wasn’t ever easy. But it gave me good insight to the parts of my belief system that needed attention.

There’s nothing wrong with you:

You will mend and you will love again if you want to. But unfortunately, it doesn’t just happen. You won’t wake up one day and fall in love without putting in the effort to heal. And it also, usually, doesn’t happen all at once either so don’t panic! That fear is important and justified at the moment. But I also don’t want you to think there’s something wrong. Nothing’s wrong with you! Those tears are normal. Your anger justified. Your fear warranted. It’s staying stuck in these emotional states for a long time (like years and years, and years) that becomes the problem. I call it Post Traumatic Divorce Disorder™.

Feel Your Feelings:

While you’re in fear or crying, please feel those feelings. You need to process what’s happened. Sometimes I find people think they need to be matter-of-fact about the infidelity. They’re embarrassed by admitting it to friends or colleagues. I get it. It makes perfect sense not to spread gossip about yourself in your community or at the office. But then, if you don’t feel safe in your community, you’ll need to find safe support elsewhere. You owe this to yourself. You need to know you’re not alone. You’ll need to learn a new way of thinking about it all (that big perspective), you’ll want to create a new group of friends, and over time, you’ll eventually have the courage to step back out into the world with more self-esteem, proud of the work you’ve done for yourself.

Love is worth it:

Eventually, you may even want someone next to you in your bed at night. (Animals don’t count.) At that point, knowing what you know, you’ll have a better picker. You’ll be more open to dating, more transparent about your needs, able to communicate your boundaries. There is value in being seen and heard, respected and loved. I know love is possible. With scars, it takes courage and time and work. Your heart and mind and spirit need you to focus on you. Your new partner – the one who matters – needs you to focus on you for the time being and then to make the courage to meet them. To trust again.

Join me in doingDivorce right. The hope I speak of is real and attainable when you focus on yourself and your healing. Leave a comment below!

Laura Bonarrigo is a Certified Life Coach and a Certified Divorce Coach here at laurabonarrigo.com. Laura’s a writer, public speaker, actress, and the founder of doingDivorce School an online coaching program for those ready to shed the pain of divorce. For empowering and practical ways to lose the identity of your past, visit www.doingDivorceSchool.com and sign up for The Scarlet D™ Letters!

4 Pointers To Help You Handle Your Heartache During A National Tragedy

August 30, 2017

During a national tragedy like they’re experiencing in Houston TX this week and parts of the south (News Flash: my son is at college down south so now I’m watching the weather with eager anticipation each day.) it’s often difficult for those going through separation and divorce to know just how to feel.

Are they supposed to be less concerned for themselves than those in dire situations? Are they supposed to be numb to their own pain or to put country and community above themselves? Are they feeling awful about themselves because they’ve no more room to care about anyone else but themselves at the moment?

During separation, heartache, and divorce feeling justified in one’s own pain becomes confusing. I hope to be able to shed some light and give you permission to feel your feelings and know you are safe.

When you’re dealing with heartache, personal trauma, separation, and divorce, it may seem as if you’re in a constant state of emergency. You’re exhausted from the fighting and fear. Worried about the next decision. Confused about which direction to go in. And afraid you’re going to lose everything: money, status, your children, your home, your things ALL THE TIME!

I want to give you permission to feel your despair. To know that you’re justified in being frightened and at the same time, to believe you’re also going to get through these days no matter how you may feel in the moment. (Just like those in Houston are going to get their feet back under them as well.) Eventually, your life will move in the right direction no matter how difficult it is right this moment.

Try to believe that because it’s true! Eventually, your divorce will be behind you and, as I say to my children, you can feel bad or you can feel optimistic, either way, the work needs to be done; the work (your divorce) doesn’t care how you feel about doing it.

How come the world is watching Houston and everyone seemingly is getting help and attention but you’re not being given the support you desperately need? The difficult thing is that it feels at times as if no one gets it. Your friends and family can’t deal with the ongoing fighting – literally the years it can take to become divorced and to get your feet back under you. And all the world is paying attention to Houston at this very moment. It can seem very unfair.

I remember going through my divorce while all the world was watching a celebrity couple breaking up in a very public way. Here they were being showered with attention and the court of public opinion eagerly weighed in on the innocence of the wife and the bad behavior of the husband. It was all I could do to keep myself from screaming!

During your divorce, it may feel as if you’re all alone and at times, the deeply personal healing is truly you with you. No one else can take on what you’re up against. These are difficult moments. They’re also gifts as difficult as that is to hear.

I am grateful my ugliness stayed within my small circle of friends and family instead of being seen by the entire world caring enough about me and my personal drama. I’m grateful that I’ve been able to become strong enough to write and to teach and mentor without having my personal lessons be strewn across newspapers and the media for all to see.

The news media and the cameras are going to leave these people and go to the next big event – whether positive or negative. You know that. You also know how difficult the day in and day out activities for these families will be. Try to keep in perspective just what all this attention means when the waters recede and they have to get to work rebuilding their lives (sort of like what you’re doing all the time!)

Eventually, your divorce will be behind you – you too will once again lift your head up and look toward the future. Your pain and your lessons are deeply personal and for that, be grateful you’ve got some semblance of privacy. You are not alone – I am right here sharing your pain while holding out the possibility of your speedy recovery and healing.

What are you to do? How can you give to others when you’ve barely got enough for yourself?Those of you who are religious and believe in giving will have no trouble donating time, money, and your personal energy to those in need. Others of you dealing with your own ongoing trauma are going to feel torn between writing a check to the American Red Cross or taking care of your own legal bills and personal expenses needing your attention. I get it!

There is no right or wrong answer in this moment. I want to give you permission to take care of yourself, your energy, your mind, your body, your family before giving and giving and giving more of yourself. Yes, those families need our help. However, you’re family also needs help. Your health and your family’s safety are just as important to your community as those who can offer help to the families in Houston and parts of Louisiana. It’s important to remember to “put your oxygen mask on first” before helping others.

Lastly, separation and divorce take a very long time. They are man-made decisions between adults. They have justifiable reasons and explanations. The law and the courts weigh in on many of the steps and decisions for a family moving forward. It’s difficult to stay the course over the long haul – just like it’s going to be really difficult for families in Houston to deal with their lives being totally disrupted by Mother Nature!

We know, going through heartache and divorce, just how difficult it is to keep up one’s spirits. You have way more experience than some others at getting out of bed each day, putting a smile on your face (no matter how fake) and managing your home, your job, and your family with a certain amount of heaviness and pain. You know what it takes.

Those just beginning their long ordeal need our thoughts and prayers. They need to believe they’ll get through these changes. They need to believe – just as you’ve had to learn – that they’ll become stronger and more resilient for the next families struck with loss and tragedy. No one gets to go through this lifetime unscathed no matter what we think.

And though divorce is an equal opportunity experience, so are the effects of Mother Nature’s wrath. We’re all subject to the whims that life sometimes throws our way. And though it may not seem fair, seldom does fairness get doled out during our life lessons.

I truly believe you are stronger than you realize. I truly believe in the grace that mankind has to offer others – as we’re witnessing between neighbor and neighbor in Houston. You are able to give your family and your community grace and generosity; you’re also allowed to ask for a hug, a moment of peace with your kids, a chance to say thank you, and the belief that your future will get better. I believe in you and all you have to offer.

As a simple reminder and offer, Laura Bonarrigo’s doingDivorce™ School begins the end of September. Reach out, look for my notifications and know, I believe in you!

Post-Trauma

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