How Can You Expect a ‘Gray Divorce’ to Affect Your Health?

While you might initially be more concerned about how your divorce will affect you financially and logistically, it also has the potential to affect your health — especially if you get divorced at an older age.

“Gray divorce,” the common term for divorce among people 50 years old or older, is skyrocketing in the United States, despite how the divorce rate in general is falling quickly. Newly divorced seniors tend to be at greater risk of depression, anxiety and chronic stress. Many of these psychological conditions are also linked to physical manifestations, including heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, insomnia and a weakened immune system.

The following are some symptoms of psychological distress a senior should be on watch for after getting divorced:

• Insomnia: Sleep deprivation is known to cause some temporary changes in cognitive behavior. If you have difficulty sleeping, you might also have some memory problems, which could result in you forgetting to take medication or eat meals. It can also cause sleepiness during the day time or a general lack of energy, which could keep you out of the gym.
• Activity changes: People dealing with depression tend to stop exercising and become sedentary, which could cause blood pressure or diabetes to get out of control.
• Risky behavior: People who are going through a great deal of stress often engage in risky behaviors such as impulsiveness, overspending, overeating, substance abuse, promiscuity and general lack of safety.
• Isolation: People who are older and who have been recently divorced are at greater risk of isolation, because they’re not as likely to get out and about with friends, or be involved in social groups. This could worsen depression symptoms.

Having an experienced attorney by your side can help reduce stress during the divorce process. For strong representation, consult an experienced Long Island divorce attorney at Bryan L. Salamone & Associates.