Isolating with a Partner During the COVID-19 Pandemic

In March, our entire world turned upside down due to the novel coronavirus.

It wasn’t very long until couples who were in the process of separating, leaving or divorcing their partner quickly discovered that quarantining together had many unforeseen pitfalls.

As a dispute divorce coach and mental health mediator, here are a few suggestions that I have shared with my clients during this historical pandemic:

• Know when to walk away and give each other space when tempers flare
• Revisit disagreements when both of you have a calmer presence
• Check your anxieties – try not to project them onto others
• Unregulated emotions can have lasting effects – when possible try to “let it go”
• Find common ground where you can let your defenses and oppositional emotions relax, if even for just a few moments
• Open communication is a learned skill that when often, over time, can breakdown marital impasses
• Be kind to yourself – do something for yourself to you refill your “emotional tank” and reduce your stress levels
• Realize that we are all in the same pandemic storm, we are not in the same boat!
• Reach out to a mental health care provider when impasses occur, many offer remote telehealth services

By letting go of conflict, one can begin to heal and move forward. It’s not an easy road letting go of past and present conflicts. It takes work, and often in divorces, it takes a team of professionals working together with each side to achieve a successful separation while reducing your reactivity that allows the process of negotiating a divorce to move forward.

At Family Divorce Solutions, our team of well-respected, experienced and trained attorneys, mental health professionals, financial professionals, along with child specialists work as a team to reach a complete and satisfactory resolution for everyone involved.

Contact FDS today to see how we can help you and your family weather the storm of COVID-19.

Note: This information is general in nature and should not be construed as legal/financial/tax/or medical advice. You should work with your attorney, financial, medical or tax professional to determine what will work best for your situation.

James Walton, Ph.D.
LATherapist.com