Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefining PTSDPTSD and DivorceImpact of Divorce TraumaRisk FactorsCoping With Divorce Trauma
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Defining PTSD
PTSD and Divorce
Impact of Divorce Trauma
Risk Factors
Coping With Divorce Trauma
Close
The loss of a significant relationship can be one of life’s most difficult challenges.Divorceor separation, in particular, increases one’s risk of distressful psychological symptoms.According to some studies, it is also a potential risk factor for suicidal behavior.
According to the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS), which measures the relationship between life events, stress, and susceptibility to illness, divorce is considered one of the most severe life stressors.
Number one on the list is the death of a loved one. Given these statistics, some wonder whether the trauma of divorce can lead to a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Once referred to as “combat stress reaction” or “battle fatigue”, PTSD gained official recognition as a mental health condition in 1980 in the third edition of theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM-lll). It was understood to be a common syndrome among war veterans. We now know that one need not go to war to develop a diagnosis of PTSD or to experience PTSD-related symptoms.
This may include directly experiencing, witnessing, or learning about the traumatic event that occurred to a close family member or friend.
Symptoms of PTSD
To be diagnosed with PTSD after a trauma, a person must experience:
The onset of symptoms may occur immediately following the event. However, the condition may also be diagnosed asdelayed onsetif symptoms appear six months after the trauma.
Symptoms that last for more than one month and cause distress or functional impairment (social, occupational). These symptoms must also not be due to medication, substance use, or other illness.
In some cases, dissociative symptoms may occur, such as depersonalization (the feeling of being detached from oneself) or derealization (a feeling of unreality).
According to the National Health Service (NHS), a formal PTSD diagnosis does not usually apply to circumstances like “divorce, job loss or failing exams.”
“A PTSD diagnosis requires something life-threatening or a threat to bodily integrity,” says Sheela Raja, Ph.D., licensed clinical psychologist, and author of “Overcoming Trauma and PTSD.” She goes on to say that divorce would not cause PTSD. However, there are still similarities in symptoms.
This means that in some cases, those who experience divorce could experience similar symptoms to those who have experienced military combat, natural disasters, rape, or other life-threatening events.
What Is Post Traumatic Relationship Syndrome?
Post-traumatic stress symptoms that may arise in the aftermath of a divorce or separation include:
It is also normal to experience symptoms of grief after a divorce. Difficulties after divorce might be a form of traumatic grief, which is characteristic of a condition known asprolonged grief disorder.
Post-Dissolution PTSD
According to psychotherapist Toni Coleman, “If a person goes through an acrimonious, drawn-out, expensive, time-consuming, and lifestyle-altering divorce…it can lead to debilitating symptoms of anxiety in which PTSD takes root. These symptoms are the result of the divorce trauma being embedded in the person’s subconscious mind and then experienced as recurrent fears and bad memories.”
In other words, a person who has experienced a divorce can present “symptoms of illness.” Coleman also goes on to say that these symptoms can come in the form of “flashbacks.” For obvious reasons, this can make it difficult for a person to move on.
Divorce Trauma and Children
Divorce is difficult for children as well. According to one study, high-conflict divorces increase the risk of PTSD symptoms in children.
Risk Factors for Divorce Trauma
Certain risk factors appear to make some people more likely to develop a diagnosis of PTSD after a divorce or separation, such as in cases that involve intimate partner abuse, exposure to a serious threat of injury, or death. This level of trauma does not meet the severity criteria required for the diagnosis of PTSD.
A history of past trauma is also a risk factor for developing PTSD post-divorce.
“In people with PTSD from past trauma,” says psychiatrist Dr. Susan Edelman, “the breakup of a relationship can lead to worsening symptoms of post-traumatic stress and psychological well-being.”
Divorce can be traumatic for everyone involved, but there are things that you can do to care for yourself during this difficult time. Strategies that can help include:
If you are struggling to cope with divorce trauma, contact a professional for extra help. A qualified therapist can help you work through your feelings and develop new coping strategies that will help get you back on track.
If you or a loved one are struggling with PTSD, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
If you or a loved one are struggling with PTSD, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
A Word From Verywell
Making the Decision to End Your Marriage
6 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
McLaughlin KA, Koenen KC, Bromet EJ, et al.Childhood adversities and post-traumatic stress disorder: evidence for stress sensitisation in the World Mental Health Surveys.Br J Psychiatry. 2017;211(5):280–288. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.116.197640Holmes, T.H.; & Rahe, R.H. (1967). The Social Readjustment Rating Scale.Journal of Psychosomatic Research. Pergamon Press 11(2), 213-218.Sander S, Strizzi JM, Øverup CS, Cipric A, Hald GM.When love hurts - mental and physical health among recently divorced Danes.Front Psychol. 2020;11:578083. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.578083Bisson JI, Cosgrove S, Lewis C, Robert NP.Post-traumatic stress disorder.BMJ. 2015;351:h6161. doi:10.1136/bmj.h6161ADAA.Symptoms of PTSD.Lange AMC, Visser MM, Scholte RHJ, Finkenauer C.Parental conflicts and posttraumatic stress of children in high-conflict divorce families.J Child Adolesc Trauma. 2021;15(3):615-625. doi:10.1007/s40653-021-00410-9
McLaughlin KA, Koenen KC, Bromet EJ, et al.Childhood adversities and post-traumatic stress disorder: evidence for stress sensitisation in the World Mental Health Surveys.Br J Psychiatry. 2017;211(5):280–288. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.116.197640
Holmes, T.H.; & Rahe, R.H. (1967). The Social Readjustment Rating Scale.Journal of Psychosomatic Research. Pergamon Press 11(2), 213-218.
Sander S, Strizzi JM, Øverup CS, Cipric A, Hald GM.When love hurts - mental and physical health among recently divorced Danes.Front Psychol. 2020;11:578083. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.578083
Bisson JI, Cosgrove S, Lewis C, Robert NP.Post-traumatic stress disorder.BMJ. 2015;351:h6161. doi:10.1136/bmj.h6161
ADAA.Symptoms of PTSD.
Lange AMC, Visser MM, Scholte RHJ, Finkenauer C.Parental conflicts and posttraumatic stress of children in high-conflict divorce families.J Child Adolesc Trauma. 2021;15(3):615-625. doi:10.1007/s40653-021-00410-9
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