Getting Through Divorce: Support Groups

Divorce rates in the UK being so high, we have been affected deeply by the phenomenon of marriages breaking up, and support groups are an answer to the demands of many.

What are They?

What are divorce support groups? These are groups that are dedicated towards helping people who have undergone the trauma of divorce or are about to face one. Sometimes, they are aimed at stopping a divorce from happening. It must be noted here that these are not legal bodies, and are not empowered by the law to break or make a marriage. They can offer help and advice in many ways to the individuals involved directly, but cannot exert pressure or intimidate or cause damage to the life or property of any individual in their efforts. In other words, if the group is helping you to find avenues for getting over a depression after your divorce that is right, but if they are willing to help you to stalk your ex spouse, that is definitely illegal.

How to Find Them

Divorce support groups can be found with relative ease. A simple search on the internet will reveal many of them. You can even look for them according to your locality. The BBC has a list of groups that may be of help for those undergoing or facing divorce. The Department of Constitutional Affairs has a section on family and people where you may obtain some helpful information. Large agencies such as Relate offer advice themselves and can also direct you to the right group. There are several telephone help lines that offer advice and also provide further contacts. Several churches and community organisations have divorce support groups themselves. You may also go to a government mediation centre for information on them.

Benefits of Joining

Why would you want to join a support group? Is it not typically for emotionally weak people who are either suffering from depression or are drug addicts? The nature of a ‘support group’ is not confined to Alcoholics Anonymous alone. While it is true that your private life is best managed by you, it is also true that there are areas where you need help from other people who are preferably neutral. It may also be pointed out here that divorce support groups have become highly ‘customised’. If you are religiously inclined, there are groups attached to churches. If you want to talk to someone of your community, there are groups dedicated to helping Asian and African divorcees, often in their choice of language. There is an answer to every problem that you can think of, and while they may not be empowered to do things for you, they can definitely help you with the information you badly need to access on crucial matters.

How They Help You

Divorce support groups have evolved from being small Sunday meetings among heartbroken people to groups with a wide database and useful contacts. Some of the areas these groups can help you on include:

Managing legal issues and queries concerning divorce.

Managing financial matters concerning divorce. This includes alimony, division of assets, will making, maintenance, managing bills and other charges, awareness on pension benefits etc.

Divorce support groups have done great work in the area of taking care of children post-divorce.

Finding employment again, opening home-based businesses, managing work and children, moving house, finding cheap but good accommodation and childcare facilities.

Medical problems, trauma treatment after abusive marriages, treatment for those suffering from depression or any kind of addiction.

Dating and social life post-divorce.

Getting ready for divorce and its consequences.

Stopping a divorce from happening through marriage counselling.

What Happens in Meetings

Meetings can be fun gatherings for people who have no chance to laugh or are too lonely. It can also be intense interaction among people facing a common issue such as depriving fathers from meeting their children. It may even be a counselling or therapy session, along with a workshop.

When to Join

One may join a support group before or after divorce, depending entirely on the personal circumstances and nature of problems.

Online Support Groups

There are online divorce support groups as well where members can retain anonymity if they so wish and interact through an online forum.

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