Deciding to get a divorce is a life-altering decision. It can be extremely stressful and difficult to cope with the many changes going on in your life. The paperwork and tough conversations commonly associated with divorce make the situation challenging enough. You do not want to make things more problematic by allowing the situation to escalate to a high-conflict divorce.
The good news is that there are plenty of ways to avoid a messy situation. Even if emotions are running high, it is possible to navigate a divorce without allowing the matter to get out of hand. This is something that you can control, and it all starts with managing your own behavior.
Communication is key
It is very common to enter into a divorce feeling betrayed. Depending on your specific circumstances, you may want nothing to do with your spouse. While this sentiment is understandable, it is important to keep in mind that effective communication will make the process much easier. Try to keep a level head and discuss matters calmly. The better you are able to communicate your thoughts, the sooner this difficult process will be over.
Do not act out of spite
The best rule of thumb when dealing with a situation that has the potential to escalate is to make decisions with your brain and not your heart. If you are feeling spiteful, you may make decisions that only prolong the divorce process. Doing petty things to aggravate your spouse like changing the locks or throwing their belongings on the front lawn is not a good way to avoid a high-conflict divorce. Instead, try to calm yourself, think rationally and make decisions that are in the best interest of your future.
Avoid social media
One of the worst decisions you can make when you are going through a divorce is airing out your thoughts on social media. Writing a Facebook status berating your spouse or posting a picture on Instagram suggesting that you have found a new boyfriend or girlfriend is not going help your divorce proceedings run smoothly.
In fact, it will almost certainly make it worse. Your spouse may make things more difficult for you out of spite or your children could see your post bad-mouthing their parent. There is simply not a good reason to post about your divorce on social media, so do yourself a favor and log off.