A high-conflict divorce can happen surprisingly fast, especially if a settlement involves significant sums of money or other emotional issues. While a husband or wife or both might feel events spinning out of control and anger rising, a few steps might reduce the aggravation and bitter feelings.
While the stakes are high in a divorce, it still helps to maintain a balanced perspective if possible.
Decide what really matters
Forbes reports that in a bitter divorce some people tend to obsess over a vision of fairness that does not really exist. Instead, a husband or wife should consider what he or she needs and wants for happiness. This can help the person pick the right battles without focusing on peripheral concerns.
At the same time, it could help a spouse to spend some time thinking about the motivations of the other spouse. A better understanding of the spouse’s position allows the other party to concentrate on what assets are negotiable and what ones do not merit a big fight.
Understand the situation
At its most basic, a marriage is a legal contract. Divorce represents the termination of this contract. It makes sense to treat the situation as a business endeavor and to attempt to hold emotions in check. That does not mean a person should not do everything to protect his or her rights, it does mean, though, an understanding of the situation could help reduce some emotional stress.
If kids complicate the divorce proceedings, a calm demeanor can prove beneficial to the children. This becomes especially important during a high-conflict divorce.