About half of all marriages in the United States end up in divorce, and 40% are affected or over 1.5 million kids – so if your parents are separated, going through a divorce, or already divorced, you're not alone. At times it may feel like your life has been completely turned upside down, but you can get through this and still have a healthy and happy life.

Divorce Tips for You

• It's NOT Your Fault:  The number one thing that you need to know is that it is NOT your fault.  Parents get separated and divorced for many reasons, usually because of the couple’s problems with each other, not with their own children.
• It’s Normal to Be Upset:  It's normal to feel anxious, surprised, angry, worried, scared, embarrassed, lonely and sad. But you shouldn't feel guilty. All of these feelings are normal as you cope with all the changes that are going on in your life.
• Talk to Someone About Your Feelings:  If you don’t feel comfortable talking to your parents, try to find a friend, a counselor or someone else in your family who understands what you are going through for moral support.
• Making Adjustments:  You may have to move, change schools, spend time with both parents separately and deal with stressful situations, especially when it comes to custody arrangements.  This may take some time, but that will give you the opportunity to adjust to these new changes and see what works best for your family.
• Your Financial Situation May Change:  If a parent didn’t work, they may have to find a job to make ends meet.  So, you might not be able to afford the same things that you had before the divorce.  This is probably one of the hardest things to deal with when families are split up.   This is a good time for you to learn some important coping tools and build up your support group.

DIVORCE PLUSES:

Some children who have gone through a divorce grow up to be better problem solvers, more compassionate and more resilient because of what they went through. 

Make the Transition Smoother