4 Reasons Why Divorce is Harder on Men than Women

As a culture, we tend to assume that women are more emotional than men. However, numerous studies have shown that divorce is actually an experience that is tougher for men to cope with. In fact, many ex- husbands allow their health and happiness to be affected by the outcome of their divorce. In this blog, we give you 4 reasons why divorce is harder on men than women.

#1: Men Tend to Skip the Grieving Process

Divorce is one of the most stressful things a person can endure in their lifetime. For some, divorce can even be more stressful than the death of a close friend or family member. When a person dissolves their marriage they lose a person who has been a major part of their life for a long time, making it natural for them to experience grief. When men don’t let themselves grieve after divorce, they can end up feeling at a loss as their plans are derailed and their goals and dreams change.

Women tend to take the time to allow themselves to grieve, which is a healthy choice that helps them move on to the next phase of their life. Many women also seek professional help or help from family members after their divorce, which can help them manage their emotions. Because men tend to bottle up their emotions, it can result in severe depression and anxiety.

#2: Men’s Health Often Declines

Men usually experience more problems with their health both during and after a divorce. The most common health problems include:

• Weight Fluctuations
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Insomnia

With the added stress of having to handle all of their finances on their own, as well as a sense of identity loss after their divorce, men are much more susceptible to both stroke and heart disease than woman. Because men don’t usually seek help from a professional therapist when they are stressed, they are also more likely than women to self-medicate with alcohol and drugs.

Men are often encouraged by their wives during their marriage to live a healthier lifestyle, which can make them become dependent on their wives. When men are depressed, they tend to talk to their wives about their issues, whereas when women are depressed, they often choose to talk about their issues with a professional therapist, friend, or family member. Some men are not accustomed to seeking out emotional support from people who aren’t their spouse, which can negatively affect them when they get divorced.

#3: Some Men Lose Their Identity

Being husband and wife becomes a large part of married couple’s identity. Being married affects how you view yourself and how you are viewed by others.

Husbands who are going through a divorce view themselves as half of a broken partnership, whereas women often try new activities or join groups. This allows women to have social relationships that they can rely on after their divorce. Because men don’t usually get involved in new activities after their marriage dissolves, they struggle to cope with their identity as a single person.

#4: Some Men Rush Into New Relationships

Because many men don’t take the time to properly grieve, and because they don’t want to be alone after their divorce, they often rush into a relationship with a new person right away. Although this allows them to suppress all their feelings and disappointments with the failed marriage, it can lead to troublesome behavior that will impact the new relationship.