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In Episode 2\xa0I discussed how the grieving process applies to divorce. \xa0In the next few podcasts I will discuss the stages in more detail.
Dealing With Anger
I can't imagine going through divorce without being angry. \xa0You are facing a time when your dreams are crashing down around you. You've possibly been rejected by the person you pledged the rest of your life to. \xa0Your ex may have cheated on you or you may be facing extreme financial difficulties.
Anger Is Normal
You will most likely be angry at your ex or soon-to-be ex. \xa0You may also be angry at friends who took your ex's side in the divorce. \xa0Family may not be as supportive as you would like them to be and this can cause you to be angry. \xa0You may find you're just angry at life in general and if you're a person of faith you may find you are angry at God.
Anger Is Healthy
Dealing with anger is a part of the normal grieving process. \xa0When you come through denial and realize that you, in fact, are either divorce or soon to be divorced, anger is the normal response for all the reasons listed above. \xa0Suppressing your anger is not healthy and can lead to bitterness and depression. \xa0Learning to express you anger in a non-destructive way is essential.
Destructive Anger
There are numerous destructive ways of dealing with anger. \xa0A common destructive way of dealing with anger is lashing out. \xa0You may yell at your kids, family, friends, or coworkers who are just innocent bystanders. \xa0It's likely you will lash out at your ex but this is not productive. \xa0Divorce turns a marriage into a business transaction. \xa0Your best hope of getting the best possible settlement is to negotiate in a businesslike fashion with your ex. \xa0Being angry and trying to "punish" your ex will only pad the pockets of the lawyers.

There are also many other destructive ways of expressing anger. \xa0From throwing your ex's belongings on the front lawn to slashing their tires. \xa0These types of behaviors can get you a restraining order if your lucky or criminal charges if your ex isn't in a forgiving mood.
How To Deal With Anger
I don't have any revolutionary advice for dealing with the anger. \xa0The proverbial "count to 10" is one of the best strategies for dealing with anger. \xa0If you just take away the knee jerk response and think about what to do you will usually make a much better decision. \xa0After the fact, you can analyze what is making you angry and decide if you can do anything about it. \xa0If you can do something... do it. \xa0If not, then you need to work on accepting it and move on. \xa0Easier said than done.
Wrap-up
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