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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Tips on surviving separation/divorce welcome

8 replies

shedreamer · 03/01/2022 10:59

Hi there, I posted back in September about my toxic relationship with my husband, father of our daughter aged 12. I got some really helpful responses at the time which helped me end the marriage.
Having made the decision to leave and instigate divorce on grounds of his unreasonable behaviour towards me (which he has accepted and signed the divorce papers), I am now 3 months into this process and feeling all kinds of anxiety about the future. On the surface I look like I'm doing well: I'm back at work, doing fitness classes 3x per week, looking after myself and my daughter etc. Spending quality time with her and with friends and family. Underneath I feel so lost and low. Getting up is a struggle daily because I feel so distressed on waking up. I do get up and face each day for my daughter's and my own sake but it's hard. I'm in process of selling my house, splitting equity and buying a new smaller house for me and my daughter.
I have medication from my Gp and also therapy - I just feel like these emotions will never go away. I used to feel confident but that has all gone from me (happened slowly through the course of my 10 year marriage). One of the worst things is we are having to share the family home until I've sold it so we can afford to live separately. It's not been feasible financially without releasing equity from the house. We have been civil in front of our daughter but the atmosphere is not friendly between us.

he treats me like a stranger/business partner and has never shown any upset that our 13 year relationship has ended. I know it should not matter to me what he thinks/feels etc but the proximity makes this harder to achieve.

I know I've taken good decisive action but wondering if anyone who has gone through something like this has any further advice? How long does it take to turn the corner and feel better? Also, has anyone else felt scared of being alone despite knowing that it's the better option than being in an unhappy marriage?

Whatever I do, I always wake with a dread of the future and the day. I never used to feel like this and wonder how much is due to the distress I felt the last 3 years in my marriage and I really hope this will not go on through the rest of my life.

OP posts:
ravenmum · 03/01/2022 11:06

Sounds very normal considering you're living in the same house! How long is that going to go on for? I and tbh my healing only really started once he was out. The dead eyes and blank face are torture.

ravenmum · 03/01/2022 11:07

oops, overwrote some of that, I meant that I only had that limbo for a couple of months after we agreed to split up.

shedreamer · 03/01/2022 11:11

Yep, that's exactly what it's like with him. I don't have a completion date yet but hoping early February as my buyers are keen and first time buyers. The sellers are in a chain so possibly this could drag on a while. Maybe I'm feeling this more as it's just been the festive period which was hard but at least I was with family. Having to come back to this situation again has been hell. I keep wondering if I will feel better with a new environment without all the reminders in our house and his general presence

OP posts:
winternights20211 · 03/01/2022 11:13

It will get better. Sadly, it takes quite a long while as there's a lot of extra crap thrown in with divorce, such as extended family, finances, mutual friends etc.
I can promise that one day you will realise how much it was worth leaving !

BillMasen · 03/01/2022 11:34

People on here are advised not to show emotion to their ex, to keep it civil and polite, not friendly, and not emotional. I guess that’s what he’s doing so I’d say don’t think not showing emotion means he’s not feeling it.

I know it’s hard but try to disengage as much as possible.

comingintomyown · 03/01/2022 11:42

Don’t expect yourself to feel much positivity while you are under the same roof, grit your teeth and get through it.
In all honesty until you are properly free there’s not much point talking about the benefits because you won’t necessarily believe it but suffice to say living away from a horrid relationship is just fantastic and you will be able to begin rebuilding your new self and life.

ravenmum · 03/01/2022 11:48

I keep wondering if I will feel better with a new environment without all the reminders in our house and his general presence
My exh moved out and I stayed in the house at first. Him leaving made all the difference. Moving into a new place was helpful in that it gave me something to focus on, but that was all. Once he'd gone it took me a couple of years to start feeling properly happy, but without him there the stress was much more manageable.

shedreamer · 03/01/2022 19:11

Thanks everyone. Its just so helpful to have some encouraging and honest words.
Im only speaking to my ex when needed about practical or child-related things anyway. Its a while since I have shown any emotion on my side either. Self-preservation and all that. I just want to stop feeling so much pain

OP posts:
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