Divorcing – Getting Through Divorcing A Depressed Spouse
Being married to someone who suffers from severe depression is hard. It is hard not only for you; it is difficult for your family and your spouse. Unfortunately, it can be so hard that it takes a toll on the relationship and causes the marriage to fall apart. If you're considering divorcing a depressed spouse, you must take every step appropriately to avoid triggering a psychological event for your spouse. You don't want him or her to fall apart, you just don't want to be in the marriage any longer. Here, you'll find a few tips that can help you get through this difficult time as easily and painlessly as possible.
Hire a Divorce Attorney
The very first thing to do is to hire a divorce attorney. You need someone that knows the system and what they're doing to walk you through the process. You don't want to be back-stepping through the process because you didn't file the correct paperwork or forgot to fill in a box on a document. Any back-steps will put a strain on your relationship and your spouse's mental wellbeing.
Discuss your spouse's condition with the attorney and make sure that he or she fully understands the situation. You may want to keep a journal of your spouse's activities to show the court at a later date – it could be beneficial in proving your spouse's mental health condition and what you've been dealing with all of these years. Once the attorney hears what your family has been going through, he or she will explain the process and how it should best be handled to protect you, your spouse, and your family from unnecessary anguish.
Work with a Counselor
Find a mental health, marriage, or couples counselor to work with the both of you through the process. The divorce can take a while to complete. If you have kids, you're still going to have to work together to care for the kids. Finding a place where you can safely talk things over where there's a third party present can help. Some people have even reconnected after going through counseling -- your spouse may just need to see how much his or her condition is affecting you -- when they do, they may be more inclined to put more of an effort into treating the condition instead of living with it.
Take it slowly – talk with a divorce attorney about your options. He or she will help you through this most difficult time. For more information, reach out to a firm like Bray & Johnson Law Firm.
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