When you and your spouse got married, you may have never pictured getting divorced. But for many couples in the U.S., this becomes a reality.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 630,505 couples in the U.S. either divorced or annulled their marriages in 2020. If you are having a hard time coping with the divorce process but still want to come to a fair settlement with your ex, the following strategies can help you effectively communicate with your former spouse.
Watch your temperament
When you feel upset, angry or frustrated, do not try and talk to your ex about important divorce-related issues. Instead, wait until you calm down to approach the conversation. This will prevent trivial arguments and help you and your spouse make progress toward a settlement.
Do not communicate unnecessarily
Your former spouse may reach out to you regularly with issues related to your divorce as well as other issues. To prevent additional conflicts, establish boundaries for how and when you will communicate with your spouse during the divorce process. Do not feel pressured to respond to communications until you feel ready.
Find a way to vent your frustrations
You may feel tempted to unleash all your anger and frustration on your spouse when you speak with him or her. Instead of venting in this manner, talk to a close friend or family member, or start seeing a therapist, to work through your emotions.
Finally, try and focus only on present issues instead of focusing on the past. This can help your divorce communications become more productive and help you heal from the emotional upheaval of this life event faster.