If you’ve recently gone through a trying divorce, it’s likely that worry, strain and trauma have taken center stage in your life. Battling the effects of stress can be hard and coping with daily challenges often leads to turning to bad behaviors and unhealthy habits to deal with troubling times. Stress is often times inevitable, but how you cope with a taxing moment may determine if you rise above tough times or succumb to them. Here are a few suggestions in regards to choosing more healthy ways of dealing with stress, particularly after a major divorce breakup.

“If you’ve recently gone through a

trying divorce, it’s likely that worry,

strain and trauma have taken

center stage in your life.”

Regular Exercise

Everyone knows that getting routine exercise is essential for living a healthy lifestyle and having a strong heart. But moderate exercise is especially important when you’re combating stressful situations—like a divorce, or losing a job. Exercise can help with:

• *Making it easier to deal with stressful situations
• *Allowing you to sleep better at night
• *Avoiding weight gain due to stress eating
• *Allowing your body’s muscles to relax after a workout

Try to work out every day for at least 30 to 60 minutes. Start off slow if needed and gradually work your way up to more vigorous activity. Hitting the gym can help alleviate racing thoughts and help your body better deal with depression and anger as you work through the healing process. If you find yourself slipping into poor behaviors, such as drug use or binge alcohol drinking, seek local professional treatment right away. Many major cities have top-notch treatment options available. For instance, the treatment centers Los Angeles are staffed with some of the most qualified experts in the country. These centers offer an array of exercise programs along with their counseling sessions to help give you a multifaceted program that targets addiction.

Eating Your Best

Following the rules of the main food groups means portioning all of your meals to include:

• *Proteins, including lean meats or plant-based proteins
• *Vegetables, more steamed and less fried
• *Grains. Avoid processed grains and choose natural grains, such as whole wheat.
• *Fruits
• *Dairy-based foods and drinks – or plant-based substitutes
  

Focus mainly on a healthy amount and overall variety to reach your nutritional goals, explains the United States Department Of Agriculture. When you eat healthy foods, along with living an active lifestyle you can handle stressful situations easier. It also reduces your risk for cardiovascular illness, including heart attack, high blood pressure, stroke and blood clots—which your risk increases as your stress levels skyrocket. Following a low-fat heart-healthy diet makes you less likely to succumb to heart-related illness in which stress could be a major contributor.

“Read a book, take up a hobby or

focus your energy on in-person contact

with a friend or family member.”

Stay Off Of Social Media

Do you play an active role in social media? If so, it could be contributing to escalating stress levels and you may not even realize it. Social media can be a stimulator to your brain, signaling negative thoughts that may alter your moods. This can ultimately cause your stress and anxiety to spiral out of control. Avoid contact with negative people or discussions on social media. Instead, read a book, take up a hobby or focus your energy on in-person contact with a friend or family member. Combining more personal time away from drama and negativity and focusing on positive activities, such as exercise, can really help your body respond better to stressful situations.

Develop Solid Trustworthy Relationships

It’s important to surround yourself with people you enjoy spending time with and who you trust. Developing good relationships with people that you can trust is important, especially if you’re going through the healing process of a divorce. Avoid friends who may be triggers for bad behaviors such as binge drinking or recreational drug use. Focus on friends who are physically active and encourage you to reach your goals.

Everyone handles stress in different ways. Making healthy choices may not be easy at first, but in the long run, you’ll be able to heal in the best way possible.

What are your favorite tips for healthy ways to deal with stress after a divorce?

Share your thoughts and comments with us.

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