w on. They will perhaps be angry, guilty, depressed, or all three. They will almost certainly feel apprehensive about having to handle many of the daily tasks of living with which they may have little or no experience, or may have taken for granted. Unlike the widowed, however, they still must deal with the reality of having a living ex-spouse who will almost certainly cross their path frequently in the months immediately following the decision to divorce, and perhaps well beyond that. This is one of the most difficult factors many divorced people face. It can be very hard to see their ex-spouse, especially if the ex-spouse is in a new relationship. The impact of divorce, then, shouldn’t be underestimated. Even in a day and culture where the breakdown of marriages is commonplace and divorces an accepted occurrence, marriage is still sacrosanct. Weddings are still built upon oaths of commitment, and marriages are still legally and emotionally binding. Even the most cynical people go into marriage with the expectation and hope that their partner will be the right one, and work towards developing a life together on the basis that the relationship will be permanent. Accordingly, it’s a very serious business when the marriage falls apart. Examining this issue from a male perspective, it should be noted that when marriages break down many men find it hard to talk about it and often adopt a macho attitude and act like it doesn’t bother them all that much, when inside they are dying. In fact, studies have revealed that many men will still be struggling with problems relating to divorce and separation ten years after the event. Furthermore, the fact that men often receive much less emotional support from friends, family, and co-workers is a major reason why, when marriages break up, many men develop severe emotional problems which can eventually effect their health. Studies indicate that the emotional trau...
