Going through a divorce after 12 years together. Does it really get better?
I’m going through a divorce after 12 years of marriage, and honestly, I feel like I’m falling apart emotionally.
He was my first boyfriend, my first love, and the person I’ve spent most of my adult life with. We have two children together, and even though I’m the one who initiated the divorce, I’m struggling more than I ever imagined.
I feel so emotionally attached to him. Part of me knows why I made this decision, but another part of me feels like I’m losing my entire world. I feel lonely, sad, confused, and broken. Some days I feel like I’ve lost my purpose in life because I don’t know who I am outside of this relationship.
I’ve also been stress eating, and I feel overwhelmed trying to process everything while still being there for my children and figuring out what my future will look like.
I never imagined that after 12 years, I would be starting over. The thought of building a new life, being alone, and accepting that our family will look different is terrifying.
I guess I’m looking for some hope from people who have been through something similar.
For those who went through a divorce after a long relationship, especially when you were the one who initiated it but were still deeply in love with your spouse, did things eventually get better?
How long did it take before you started feeling like yourself again? Did you eventually stop feeling so attached? How did you deal with the loneliness, the grief, and the feeling that you had lost your purpose?
I would really appreciate hearing your honest experiences. Right now, I just need to know that it’s possible to get through this and feel happy again.