At any age, getting divorced is likely to be a difficult and emotional experience. For couples who have been married for decades, divorce can be especially hard as children are likely to be grown and out of the home and friends established and settled in their lives and marriages.

A mid-life divorce can leave an individual feeling lost and out of place. Many individuals who divorce in their 40s and 50s are also forced to deal with the financial and social implications of divorce as finances are cut in half and family members and friends may be wary of divorce-related conflict and discussions.

In some cases, a parent going through a mid-life divorce may turn to a grown child for comfort, guidance and support. Doing so, however, is not appropriate. This is especially the case if the individual from whom a parent is divorcing is a grown child’s mother or father. Divorcing parents would be wise to maintain a healthy and appropriate parent and child relationship and find solace and support elsewhere.

Going through a divorce is difficult and individuals who divorce in their 40s and 50s are likely to be in need of love and support from friends and family members. In many cases, however, friends and family members of individuals in their 40s and 50s aren’t prepared, willing or able to bear the burden of providing a shoulder to cry on.

Mid-life divorcees who are struggling with a divorce may choose to seek the guidance and advice of a professional counselor or therapist. A trained professional who is an objective third-party can offer a fresh and unbiased view and perspective to help an individual cope with the many changes that often accompany divorce.

Source: The Huffington Post, “5 Ways to Behave Like a Grown-Up Through Your Midlife Divorce,” Abby Rodman, LICSW, Sept. 22, 2014