Getting a divorce is always difficult, no matter the circumstances. However, when you’re in your twenties? Divorcing young can come with a certain set of challenges. Not to mention, remarks from the people in your lives. In short, coping and finding support can be more difficult when the people around you are less sympathetic…
Divorcing Young: What Makes it So Difficult?
You have your whole life ahead of you
Divorcing in your twenties is extremely difficult for a number of reasons, but one in particular that can be particularly gutting— is that a portion of your life is ending when you’re in the ‘prime of your life’. You have your whole life ahead of you. At the start of your marriage, you were planning on building that life with this person next to you. Furthermore, after a divorce, you almost always wonder about finding love and marriage once again. Therefore, while being young can feel limitless, it can also seem daunting and lonely in a moment such as this. The key thing to remember, and try to feel optimistic about, is that you get a fresh start.
People can be insensitive
When you’re divorcing young, you didn’t spend decades building your relationship. Not to mention, there were probably a few outspoken critics along the way that you had to shut down. But, now that you’re divorcing, people might be less sympathetic, a little more insensitive, and utter the words ‘I told you so’. The people around you may discredit your divorce, and the pain you’re feeling because you didn’t spend 25 years together. It’s important that you, and you alone, understand that a smaller time frame does not make your divorce lesser.
You’re getting divorced while others are just getting married
Another tough aspect of divorcing young, is that your marriage likely came before many of your friends. Therefore, while you’re going through this difficult time, many of your friends are beginning an engagement, and getting married. When this happens, it can bring up feelings of loss, disappointment, and failure. You have to be joyous for your friends, and find ways to cope as well. If you’re struggling, and need to speak with someone who understands what you’re going through— speak to a friend who has also been through divorce, even if they’re a bit older. Coping with divorce can sometimes mean finding people who can relate to what you’re going through.