Weight fluctuations, depression, anxiety, and insomnia are the most frequent health issues men face after going through a divorce. Struggling with finding ways to cope with identity issues and the added stresses that life after divorce brings, leave men vulnerable to high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.
You should also understand how divorce changes a man. It often leads to health problems like weight gain, a significant reduction in financial resources, increased loneliness (which is worsened if he can't see his children and doesn't have friends or a support network), and decreased mental health and self-esteem.
Past studies suggest that it takes a person, on average, eighteen months to move on after divorce, while others simply leave it at “it's complicated.” And that's the truth—divorce is complicated, and because of this, science is only so accurate.
Men often experience the most devastating losses from divorce, often without knowing healthy ways to cope. Men are nearly twice as likely to develop major depression after divorce than women, and the suicide rate of divorced men is nearly twice that of married men.
After a divorce, it's easy for guys to let themselves become isolated, especially if the ex gets custody of the kids. That's another big mistake. It can worsen feelings of depression, guilt, and loneliness, a potentially dangerous mix. Divorced men are twice as likely to commit suicide as married men.
In a 2016 survey by Avvo.com, researchers interviewed 254 women and 206 men and asked how they felt about their divorce. They found out that 27% of women and 32% of men found themselves regretting divorce.
Divorce tends to increase the risk of men developing anxiety, depression, and drug abuse. When men feel like their ex monopolized their children or mutual friends, the lack of social activity and resulting loneliness can exacerbate mental health issues.
The study surveyed 10,000 men and women over the course of two decades. Participants were asked to rate their own happiness before and after major milestones in their lives. Although men also felt slightly happier after their divorce was final, the increase was much less marked.
The majority of divorces affect younger children since 72 percent of divorces occur during the first 14 years of marriage. Because a high percentage of divorced adults remarry, and 40 percent of these remarriages also end in divorce, children may be subjected to multiple family realignments (Cohen 2002).
Individuals may go through several stages of mourning or grief. The emotional intensity of this period usually reaches a peak within the first six months of separation. However, the grieving process may take as long as two years.
Men's emotions after divorce may vary. But sadness, exhaustion, anger, bitterness, regret can pull them deeper and deeper into the pit of negativity, making them lose motivation to move on. Sometimes, even small reminders of the good things in your life can help fix it.
On average, men don't tend to allow themselves to feel their emotions properly, and will sort of procrastinate dealing with their feelings, and will disingenuously cope with divorce instead. Due to this, the initial couple of months after divorce tend to be easier for men than for women.
Men Are More Likely to Remarry
The rate for women was significantly lower, at only 19.4 per 1,000 women eligible for remarriage. This data indicates that men are consistently more likely to attempt a second marriage than women. Over the past decade, there has been a decline in remarriage rates for both men and women.
Usually, it seems as though the woman is the one who gets the better end of the deal. While many men are quick to say that their ex-wives took everything, including the dog—or that is what many country songs lead you to believe, anyway—the truth is that women often fare worse in a divorce.
During a 20 year period, researchers found that women were happier and more satisfied with their lives after divorce.
Anger is a common emotion to feel during the divorce experience. It speaks to the intensity of affection you had during your marriage, and when that ended, there was no other way to express the sudden change in the physical, mental, and emotional makeup of your life.
Statistically speaking, men have a tougher time with anxiety, depression, and insomnia, and experience greater fluctuations in weight following divorce. Some surmise that women typically play a greater role in championing healthy living and communication during marriage, leaving men at a loss when they're alone.
divorce affect the limbic system – the seat of emotion – in the brain, and that can shut down the appetite. However, undereating is not the only eating disorder caused by divorce. Some turn to food for emotional comfort, leading to overeating and binge eating in an attempt to cope with psychological pain.
Going Through a Midlife Crisis
In a span of 5 years, about 33% of those who had divorced said that they regret their decision to file for divorce. If the reasons for divorce are abuse and incompatibility, there is a high chance that the couple will regret getting a divorce.
How does divorce financially affect men? Most men experience a 10–40% drop in their standard of living. Child support and other divorce-related payments, a separate home or apartment, and the possible loss of an ex-wife's income add up.