One of the hardest parts of deciding to divorce your spouse is the uncertainty of how your choice will impact your children. Inevitably, your children will experience adjustments as they learn to cope with a changing family dynamic.
You may worry about how your children’s behavior will change. While you can never know for sure what will happen, your commitment to providing a stable and loving home may reduce the negative impacts of your divorce on your children.
Causes of behavioral disorders
Your children will respond to your divorce differently depending on several factors including the following:
- Age
- Maturity
- Relationships with parents
- Social support
If your children lack the support and resources to understand and cope with the changes taking place, they may have a higher risk of developing a behavioral disorder. Your children may feel stressed, scared, confused and even unwanted as they navigate the complexities of divorce. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children with behavioral disorders may act defiantly or aggressively. They may argue with you or experience personality changes. Increased anger and social anxiety may also indicate behavioral disorders.
Finding a solution
The best thing you can do for your children is to provide a stable support system for them. Make it a point to ask them about their feelings. Ask them if they have questions that you can provide answers to. Encourage them to feel their emotions and process them. Create a safe home environment.
You can also look for community support groups that your children can participate in to help them experience friendship and unity. Having your children work with a therapist is another excellent way for them to learn the proper way to handle their emotions. Your divorce may bring challenges, but with genuine, customized and timely intervention, you can help your children adjust.
