How Divorce Can Lead to Addiction

 Posted on October 13, 2017 in Divorce

People who are going through or have completed a divorce often turn to comforting activities to help them cope. Divorce is a significant source of stress, anxiety and depression. Divorcees are experiencing a life-altering process with an uncertain outcome. The stress increases if the two parties are hostile and combative with each other. Thus, it seems more important to be able to enjoy themselves when they have free time. However, overindulgence can lead to addiction, even for those without a history of addictive behavior. What started as a coping mechanism becomes a compulsion that is difficult to break.

Types of Addiction

People most commonly associate addiction with alcohol, tobacco products and drugs. All of the them have addictive properties and can become a chemical dependency for the users. Substance abuse is also directly linked to health complications and changes in behavior. However, addiction is broader than substance abuse, including:

• Overeating;
• Gambling;
• Shopping; and
• Sexual activities.

Behavior that people identify as comforting or enjoyable will cause their brains to release dopamine and other hormones. If the behavior is frequently repeated, the brain increasingly craves the activity, and the person will feel compelled to continue the behavior.

Identifying Addiction

An activity develops into an addiction because a person ignores that the repeated behavior is becoming a compulsion. Divorcees are particularly vulnerable because they are seeking enjoyable activities that help them forget about their stresses. Their friends, trying to comfort them, may initially encourage the indulgent behavior. It is difficult for someone to acknowledge his or her own addiction because it means admitting that an enjoyable behavior has become a problem. Signs of addiction include:

• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when the person is not partaking in the behavior;
• A willingness to ignore other responsibilities in order to continue the behavior;
• Losing the ability to control one’s thoughts and emotions; and
• Building up a tolerance to the behavior that requires increasing the behavior to feel the same enjoyment.

Recovery

Once a behavior has become an addiction, the person will need help if he or she wants to break it. Doctors, therapists and support groups are common resources for people going through addiction. Recovery may also require changing a living environment and avoiding people who encourage the behavior.

If you are dealing with an addiction during your divorce, you should contact your attorney to see how he or she can help. A Kane County divorce attorney at Goostree Law Group will put your health and wellbeing first and advise you on how to handle your divorce while you are recovering. Schedule a free consultation by calling 630-584-4800.

Source:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/contemplating-divorce/201709/can-divorce-cause-addiction