Friends After Divorce: Where Did They All Go?

“True friends after divorce are the ones who accept the changes and still stand by you as you rebuild.”

Tips to Maintain Friends After Divorce

It goes without saying that traveling down the road of divorce, even in the most amicable situations, is an emotional journey filled with changes to a couple’s lifestyle. One change that is often overlooked is how one’s friendships are affected.

Adjusting to life without the same social connections can be one of the toughest aspects of rebuilding your life. Navigating friendships after divorce is rarely discussed, but it plays a critical role in your emotional recovery.

During a marriage a couple often shares a circle of friends. When they decide to go their separate ways, the dynamics of those friendships inevitably change. Friends within that circle often feel an unspoken pressure to side with one of the parties. They might feel torn between who they should support, and struggle with the idea of maintaining a relationship with both soon to be exes.

Changes with friends while going through a divorce can be very difficult. Navigating these changes while working through the emotional loss of a marriage can be hard. Some friends may feel a need to remove themselves and gradually drift away. On the other hand, some friendships will remain strong as they help you to adapt to your new situation.

TIPS TO MAINTAIN HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS WITH FRIENDS AFTER A DIVORCE:

There are some things that you can do to help maintain healthy relationships with your friends who were part of your mutual circle.

The number one thing is communication. Be honest with your friends as to what is happening with your marriage. If you want to continue to be friends, make sure they understand that. Group gatherings may no longer be a comfortable option, so try different settings to get together. Set boundaries and let your friends know you do not want them to choose sides or be a referee.

As you embark on this new chapter in your life, perhaps this is a good time to form some new friendships as well as maintaining old ones. Seek out a new activity or become involved with a club, church, or organization. Perhaps volunteer within your community or take a class where you have an opportunity to meet people with similar passions and interests.

Don’t be afraid to reach out to past acquaintances. This might also be a good time to reconnect with old friends that were not a part of your circle of friends as a couple.

You might consider joining a divorce support group, or on an online community where you can share your feelings with others. It can be very helpful and healing to talk with people who are experiencing some of the similar challenges and changes that you are. Also seeking a good personal mental health therapist, while not the same as a friend, can be a positive thing.

Final Thoughts: Accepting Change, Finding New Support

Taking care of yourself should be a priority, both physically and mentally. Exercising and a good diet will help you to maintain a positive outlook.

While it’s normal to grieve the loss of some connections, your journey doesn’t end there. Healing often begins with surrounding yourself with the right friends after divorce – those who uplift and understand your new reality.

Divorces are challenging. Recognize that there will be some changes in your circle of friends. Losing some friends may be a part of the divorce but do your best to nurture the old friends who understand and respect the changes in your life. Be open to meeting people and surround yourself with people who are fun and enjoyable to be around. Making new friends and maintaining old ones takes time and effort but is important to helping you with the healing process of a divorce.

Experienced, Trusted and Professional Dayton Divorce Lawyers

MuesLaw can assist you with your divorce or dissolution related issues. To learn more, please go to our website at www.MuesLaw.com or call us at 937 293-2141. We can schedule an in-person conference or one by phone or Zoom. We look forward to assisting you!

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