Breaking Your Divorce News When a Stigma Exists

 Posted on November 15, 2013 in Divorce

If you're planning to get a divorce but you face a unique situation where an individual or group has particular feelings about your choice, it's really difficult to break the news and avoid some potentially awkward conversations. Getting divorced is a personal decision that will certainly impact you mentally to start with, which makes conversations with difficult individuals all the more challenging. If you're bracing for sharing the news, there are a few tips to keep in mind.

Telling Family Members

Perhaps your family members believe that you should have honored your wedding day vows and stay married, or maybe they never liked your spouse to begin with. Sharing the divorce news can bring out the worst in these individuals.

Those who don't support your decision will try to make you reconsider instead of supporting you, and even if you have your own negative feelings about your spouse, it's not always productive or a good mental exercise to listen to another person bash them. Don't be afraid to limit the conversation around the issue or cut people off when they cross the line. Tell them you appreciate their support but draw the boundaries of what's appropriate.

Religious Situations

According to a study from the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, the divorce rate for Catholics is much lower than other religious affiliations. Getting divorced as part of a community where divorce is less understood or accepted is also a challenge. For the short term, it might be best to keep the divorce news sharing on an "as needed" basis. Ideally, most people will try to provide support for you eventually, but you may need some time to heal before you're ready to share the news with members of your congregation.

If you're thinking about taking the next step in getting a divorce, know that you can reduce your fears and anxiety by hiring experienced legal representation. Don't hesitate to reach out to the offices of a DuPage divorce lawyer today.