Is your divorce making you sick? Although this may seek like a farfetched proposition at first blush, the stress and emotional anguish that often accompanies divorce can indeed lead to physical illness. Below are five tips to help you stay healthy, both physical and emotionally, during one of the most difficult times in your life.
#1 - Exercise. This is one piece of advice that is often touted as being beneficial in many situations. This is the case, because exercise helps release endorphins, which in turn lifts the mood. Additionally, exercise improves sleep, and helps alleviate stress, anxiety and depression. Bottom line, exercise can help you cope with the stress, anxiety and insomnia often associated with divorce.
#2 - Maintain a Healthy Diet. Stress affects people differently. For some people, stress can induce weight gain. For other, stress can cause weight loss. With that said, regardless of how stress impacts you, it is important to maintain a healthy diet. Eating balanced meals, consisting of a healthy balance of protein, fat and carbohydrates is important to not only prevent extreme weight fluctuations, but also to ensure you have the energy necessary tackle the issues of your
#3 - Get Some Sun. This may seem like a simplistic and pointless suggestion, but this is very important. Sunlight improves the brain's serotonin supply, and it also provides your body with vitamin D, which in turn has a positive effect on your mood.
#4 - Take Preventive Health Measures, and Consider Seeing a Therapist. Put plainly, see your physician regularly, and seek the counseling and advice of an individual therapist if needed. Having regular health check-ups with your physician can potentially prevent the negative impact of certain diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes or cancer. Additionally, if the stress and anxiety often associated with divorce become overwhelming, it is advisable to seek the advice of an individual therapists who can help you develop coping mechanisms.
#5 - Relax. Yoga, massages, deep breathing exercises, and meditation. These are all techniques than can be used to keep the stress associated with divorce at bay. Simply put, take some time to take a breath, focus on yourself and relax.