15th Sep 24 10:00 pm
JamieStigmas are sets of unfair and negative beliefs that society has about a specific trait, circumstance, or health symptom or condition. Mental health, substance abuse, and divorce all have stigmas. While the stigma surrounding divorce has decreased significantly, the ones around mental health and substance abuse are still rather strong. When combined with divorce, all of these stigmas can combine to make an individual feel embarrassed, ashamed, and alone. They can also make you feel anxious and afraid about the outcome of your divorce. From concerns about custody to worries about the division of assets, whether you or your spouse is dealing with mental health or substance abuse, it is natural to be concerned about how things will play out.
However, it is also important to recognize that even if you did not have mental health concerns before, you should still pay attention to your mental health during divorce. Divorce is an enormous change in your life, and prioritizing your mental health should be as important as prioritizing your children and any other aspect of your divorce. If you have questions regarding the Colorado divorce process, contact our legal team at Colorado Divorce Law Group at (720) 593-6442. One of our compassionate divorce attorneys may be able to review your case and answer your questions.
One in seven people report substance abuse problems and one in five report mental health disorders in any year, according to the National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse. Both substance use disorders and mental health disorders can be triggered by stressful or traumatic events, such as divorce. The National Institute on Drug Abuse indicates that around one in four people have both a serious mental health condition and a substance use disorder. In some cases, substance abuse can be the result of trying to numb mental health symptoms, while in other cases, mental health conditions can be the result of an ongoing substance abuse problem.
There are many risk factors for both mental health and substance abuse. Many of these factors overlap, increasing the risk that an individual may have both mental health issues and substance use disorders. Some of these overlapping factors include marginalization, discrimination, trauma exposure, poverty, social determinants of health, and a lack of access to treatment services.
There are also variable risk factors such as income level, employment status, peer group, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). These factors can change due to divorce, among other reasons. These factors, along with others, can apply to both parents and their children. For this reason, it is important that divorcing parents pay attention to both their own mental health and that of their children, as well as watching for indications of substance use.
People often worry about being labeled with derogatory terms such as abnormal, deficient, psycho, crazy, or other negative terms and as a result, do not seek treatment. Additionally, many people struggling with mental health or substance abuse may find themselves socially isolated as family and friends distance themselves for fear of being stigmatized themselves. For many, the lack of insurance coverage for mental health or substance abuse treatments means they lack access to affordable treatment, and for others, fear of the legal system punishing them causes them to hide their disorders.
While most mental health conditions are out of the individual’s control, many people have been conditioned to believe otherwise. Substance abuse is also often seen as something that is within the individual’s control. This conditioning leads many people to keep their mental health or substance abuse disorders a secret for fear of being judged as lazy, weak, or other terms that lead to more shame and embarrassment.
For individuals who are divorcing, substance abuse and mental health during divorce can be significant concerns. The individual may be concerned about their spouse having a mental health condition or substance use disorder, or they may be worried about how their own will impact the divorce. In either case, honesty and open communication will be the best methods of dealing with this concern.
Men are often taught from an early age that they are to be providers and protectors for their families. A divorce may lead to feelings of loss, failure, anger, and loneliness, partially as a result of this early teaching. However, they are also often taught to be stoic and resilient which leads to not expressing these feelings. Because they keep these feelings to themselves, they may manifest as depression, anxiety, or heightened stress levels.
Symptoms in men may include sleep, appetite, or mood changes. They also may include sudden social withdrawal, a slight or significant drop in functioning, difficulty concentrating or remembering, severe apathy, heightening sensitivity or a constant feeling of over-stimulation.
Women tend to exhibit more mental health issues in divorce, including depression, anxiety, and social isolation. They also tend to see larger increases in antidepressant use but seem significantly more content for up to five years after their divorce is over, according to London’s Kingston University researchers.
While women often see some of the same symptoms as men, they also may experience feelings of hopelessness or persistent sadness, decreased energy or fatigue, excessive fear or worry, misuse of drugs or alcohol, seeing or hearing things that are not there, anger or irritability, and behaviors or thoughts that interfere with their social life, family, or work.
A Colorado divorce can feel brutal and complex. That is why it is important to break the stigmas around substance use disorder and mental health issues. Divorcing parents and their children should be able to ask for and receive the help they need to protect their mental health or recover from substance use disorder. However, many do not because the stigmas currently in place have them living in fear that if they dare to mention having a problem of this nature, they may be punished with different custody arrangements or division of assets as a result. Parents may also fear acknowledging their child has a mental health condition or substance use disorder for fear of being blamed and losing rights over their children.
There are several things that individuals can do to try to break the stigmas around mental health and substance use disorder. Some of those include:
The state of Colorado does not require individuals to hire a divorce attorney when going through a divorce. While individuals can represent themselves and file the paperwork required to handle their own divorce, when mental health or substance abuse is involved, there are some potential benefits that a lawyer may be able to provide to make the divorce process smoother and less difficult or stressful for their client, especially when they are dealing with their mental health during divorce. Our experienced divorce attorneys at Colorado Divorce Law Group may be able to help you maintain your mental health while guiding you through the divorce process.
Some of these potential benefits an attorney may be able to provide include:
Divorce can be filled with meetings, hearings, discussions, arguments, and paperwork. At times, the process can seem to move so slowly that it feels like it will never end, while at other times, the speed at which things seem to happen can feel overwhelming. Wherever an individual is in the process, protecting their mental health during divorce is critical.
Some ways individuals might protect their mental health include:
Substance use disorder and mental health during divorce can complicate things. While there may be times when it is appropriate to use someone’s mental health or substance use disorder as grounds to keep their children away from them or divide assets differently, most people should be made to feel safe and unjudged so that they can get the help they need to deal with their condition. If you are looking for a compassionate, understanding attorney who can assist you with a Colorado divorce while you or your spouse handle mental health or substance use disorder issues, contact Colorado Divorce Law Group at (720) 593-6442. We may be able to review your case in a free consultation.
