Legal matters are always inherently stressful, and legal battles within the family are some of the worst out there. Family law covers a wide variety of situations, including property distribution, divorce, child custody, paternity and child support, domestic violence, and even juvenile issues. There are some family lawyers who even specialize in areas that have nothing to do with divorce, such as adoption, emancipation, and more.
A divorce will be extremely stressful for you and your spouse, and matters are always complicated further when children are involved. Forming a custody agreement during a divorce case is hard on all family members, especially the children or adolescents involved. An agreement may result in joint custody, where both parents are responsible for the major decisions in their children’s lives, or there may be sole custody agreements if one parent is deemed unfit. Such family law cases will also have to iron out approved visitation rights and other particulars that can easily raise child anxiety. Here are a few ways you can help your family cope during this difficult time.
Find an attorney you trust, and stick with them.
There’s no denying that you’re going to have to find a divorce lawyer or similar legal representation during litigation. Especially when you’ve lost all spousal support, you need to find a family law attorney who will be on your side during the legal separation. Seek the services of someone like this family lawyer in New Orleans, and take their counsel seriously.
High-conflict custody cases lead to high emotions, which aren’t good for you, your spouse, or your child’s anxiety. You’ll need to follow any legal advice your counselor gives you to the letter, and it’s also a good idea to follow any advice they have about de-escalating situations. Even if your spouse isn’t behaving in a way that supports you and your children’s best interests, it’s often better to just make notes of offending behavior, rather than calling them out on it in an emotional moment or contemplating a contempt filing. Handling situations as amicably as possible now will help you on the path towards healing, even if it may not feel like it at the time.
Consider visiting a therapist.
With the stigma surrounding mental health quickly dissipating, it’s more common than ever for people to seek help from a psychiatrist to deal with issues like anxiety disorders, phobias, panic disorder, and more. Children and adolescents often have a difficult time expressing the things that are bothering them, and a divorce or other family legal matters is a huge change in a child’s life. These issues can easily affect your child’s mental health and may result in issues like separation anxiety or social phobia.
If you’re noticing changes in your child’s behavior during the legal process, it’s a good idea to contact a child anxiety therapist and see what can be done. Your child’s symptoms may manifest in forms like irritability and mood swings, avoidance of school, or even difficulties with sleep. Child psychiatrists are well-trained in finding ways to focus on a child’s issues while keeping them comfortable.
Of course, you could always come in for family therapy as well, or you may even wish to set up some individual sessions of your own. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is often a successful approach that clients take to. This is basically a way of teaching you to view your situations differently and react with a more positive mindset. If you have social anxiety or tend to berate yourself for your problems, then CBT can be a great way to change your outlook, and it will likely help you with healing after the legal battle is done.
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