Frequently Asked Questions

How does stress affect the process of divorce?

We know so much more about human nature, and the effects of divorce on parents and children, than we did when the divorce rate started climbing 30 years ago. We know that the psychological state of "hyper-vigilance" which exists in cases of high stress can sustain dangerously high blood pressure, can have profound effects on the human immune system, and prematurely age the body. People who must remain hyper-vigilant have poor sleep quality, and their judgment is impaired. In extreme situations, over a period of many months, the state is similar to the post-traumatic stress disorder suffered by combat veterans.

We also know that the effects of divorce have a deep impact on the "self". Long term studies on divorcing parents and children seem to verify that the psychological injury from separation and divorce can strike to the core of the body and mind. And yet, many divorcing couples, even in the face of all this, can find a healthy path so that they and their children not only recover from the transition of divorce, but grow and thrive.