Guilt can be defined as the negative feelings that arise because of behavior or the perception that a behavior is wrong. It’s an unpleasant emotion that keeps our morals in check. It is particularly painful in intimate relationships as we are witness to the impact of our behaviors on those we care about. Personally, as a couples therapist I felt guilty that I missed the warning signs of my own relationship’s demise. I also felt guilt about the impact of divorce on my children, who had their own journey with the pain. What I found by surveying divorced men and women is that we often feel guilty about things over which we have no control

The average first marriage that ends in divorce lasts about 8 years, about the average life of a new car. Divorce rates in the US are at nearly 50 percent for first marriages, and two thirds of them are initiated by women. With such dismal facts, it seems important to understand why marriages succeed or fail and how to know when it’s time to separate.

Like divorce isn’t hard enough, let’s throw in a pandemic? Seriously? My nervous system is already fried, thank you very much. My divorced self-esteem is circling the drain and still, my ex is pulling out all of their traditional “greatest hits” of bad behavior. The anxiety feels relentless.

Anxiety and divorce, dating after divorce, covid and divorce?

Divorce, anxiety and panic attacks are close bedfellows-there’s no getting around that. You’re launched on an unpredictable, emotional roller coaster ride. Your soon be ex’s reactive trance has stripped all compassion leaving you with a racing heart, waking in the night, sweaty palms, foggy thinking, nausea- feeling like you’re under attack,questioning your mental health, fear that you’re losing your mind? Check, check and check.