Parents who have to deal with custody disputes encounter a number of challenges, depending on their circumstances. Some have to spend a lot of time, money and energy to attend court and approach their case correctly, while others have to face the reality that they will not have the ability to spend as much time with their child as they wanted. We know that some face additional hardships, such as a bitter ex, arguments and even false allegations of abuse by a former partner who wants to win a custody dispute. All of these difficulties can take a heavy mental toll on parents who may already face many emotional hurdles due to a tough divorce.
Stress is extremely common during custody disputes, often one of the most stressful things a parent will ever experience. Not only does anxiety often get in the way of a parent’s custody battle, but it raises a myriad of other concerns in life, from health issues to problems at work. Some parents also experience depression due to a custody dispute and some even become angry (especially if a former partner is falsely accusing them of wrongdoing in order to gain an advantage).
It is imperative for parents to manage these emotions properly. Do not allow negative emotions to interfere with your ability to pursue custody and put your best foot forward. Often, parents benefit from taking part in other activities that they enjoy (such as photography, hiking or spending time with friends). Many also benefit from reviewing more information about their legal options and strategies to do all they can while pursuing a favorable outcome, which we discuss on our custody page.
