Women and Separation (Booklet) - Relationships Australia

Separation and women's experiencesWomen’s grievingThe path through separation is unlikely to be a neat straight line. Youwill find yourself experiencing the highs and lows that come with griefand loss including anger, numbness and despair.The emotional impact will test your strength and your capacity to lookafter yourself properly.Be prepared for ‘triggers’ that may set off the feelings and memoriesall over again.How should you be feeling?There are no rules about how you should be feeling. We all progressthrough the separation process at different rates. The trick is not togive yourself a hard time or use unhealthy ways of coping.Don’t let anyone tell you how you should feel. Identify what helps you.You may choose to:• divert feelings into normal routines (work, hobbies, clubs)• let off steam by exercising• express feelings in humour• develop strategies for dealing with practical concerns• join a group with others going through the same experience.‘At first I felt paralysed. I managedto get up every morning and getthrough the day, but now I amstarting to feel alive again.’R.M., aged 55,two years after separation5