Take It From Me: Divorce Is No More Stressful Than A Dysfunctional Marriage

Life gets better post-split.
Divorce is difficult but so is sustaining a troubled marriage.
Noel Hendrickson via Getty Images
Divorce is difficult but so is sustaining a troubled marriage.

If there's ever a time you need a little distraction in your life, it's during the divorce process. That's why we launched our Divorce Care Package series. With each post, we'll show you what things -- books, movies, recipes -- helped others relieve stress in the midst of divorce, in the hopes that a few of their picks will serve you well too. Want to share what got you through your divorce? Email us at divorce@huffingtonpost.com.

Beth Cone Kramer wants to assure those going through divorce of two things: First, life will eventually become a lot less stressful. And second, if you're feeling beleaguered or out of sorts since the split, don't be afraid to reach out for help from friends, family or professionals.

"You are not alone," said Cone Kramer, the co-author of The Bachelor Girls Guide. "Ask for support. Put together a team to help with what you need, whether that means a financial expert, therapists for you and your kids, a life coach or all of the above. Knowledge is power."

Below, the writer shares what helped her get through the stress of divorce when her 15-year marriage ended in 2009.

The Quote
Neil Overy via Getty Images
"This Thich Nhat Hanh quote reminded me not to focus on the temporary hardship of change and to believe in the promise of the future. Sure, divorce, like any life transition, isn’t easy but it’s no more stressful than the day-to-day of a dysfunctional marriage. Rear view mirrors come with the warning that objects seem larger than they appear; it’s the same with divorce."
The Book
Bloomberg via Getty Images
"The book I loved most during my divorce was Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding. Sometimes, you need a bit of levity. Bridget reminds me that 'singletons' can build wonderful tribes who support us. Marriage sometimes creates a stopgap on those kind of friendships, especially when we have kids. There’s this myth that our mate should be our one and only support."
The Food
Diane Macdonald via Getty Images
"During my divorce, I would buy a few different flavors of Ben & Jerry’s or artisanal ice cream and do a taste testing for dinner!"
The Distraction
happydancing via Getty Images
"When I was married, I had stopped writing, which was always part of my life, almost like brushing my teeth. I started to blog when a friend bought me The Huffington Post Complete Guide to Blogging toward the end of my marriage and within a year or two, I was working as a professional writer!"
The TV Show
Official Gilmore Girls Facebook Page
"I was a fan of the 'Gilmore Girls' during my marriage but revisited the series with my youngest daughter after divorce. My daughters and I have a similar relationship to the one Lorelai and Rory share in the series. There’s definitely a balance involved when parenting as a single mom, especially when your daughters enter the teen years. They naturally want to spend more time with their friends. I think Lorelai’s character did a commendable job of single parenting, giving her daughter space while also creating her own life."

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