According to a new paper recently published in the Journal Of Men’s Health, divorce can take a great mental and physical toll on men. Specifically, divorced and unmarried men have higher rates of mortality and are more prone to substance abuse and depression than married men.

The paper, titled “The Influence of Divorce on Men’s Health,” concluded that divorced and unmarried men have mortality rates up to 250 percent higher than married men. The causes of premature death for divorced men include cardiovascular disease, hypertension and stroke. Divorced men are also more prone to various diseases, ranging from common colds to life-threatening health problems like cancer and heart attacks.

Divorce can also affect men’s mental well-being; the researchers found that divorced men are more likely to partake in risky activities such as abusing alcohol and drugs, and divorced or separated men have a suicide rate that is 39 percent higher than that of married men. Depression is also more common for divorced men than married men, and divorced men undergo psychiatric care 10 times more often than married men do.

Dr. Ridwan Shabsigh, the president of the International Society of Men’s Health, explained the importance of the study’s findings.
“Popular perception, and many cultures as well as the media present men as tough, resilient, and less vulnerable to psychological trauma than women. However, this article serves as a warning signal not to follow such unfounded perceptions,” he said.

“The fact is that men get affected substantially by psychological trauma and negative life events such as divorce”

During your divorce it’s more important than ever to look after yourself. Do your best to get adequate sleep, food, and exercise on a regular basis. Schedule it into your calendar like you would meetings for work. Food and exercise help elevate your mood, as well as give you energy to keep going.
Music is also an instant mood booster. Design some playlists that make you feel upbeat and positive and play them whenever you feel low.

Don’t drink and/or drug your way through your issues. You need a clear head and steady emotions to handle the many difficult choices ahead. If you notice you’ve been hitting the bottle often, try other mood-elevating activities, such as exercise, music, rest, and spending time with good friends in an enjoyable activity.
That’s not to say it’s not fun to dull the senses every so often, but if it gets to the point that the ONLY way you can rest is by drinking or drugging yourself there, it’s time to rethink your strategy.

If you have difficulty sleeping or eating because of depression or anxiety, then you need to seek help from a doctor or therapist. You shouldn’t let this go any longer than three weeks or immediately if you have thoughts of harming yourself or others.

If you’re experiencing the pain of divorce, don’t suffer it alone. Get in touch today and let me help you move through that pain.