Dealing with domestic abuse can be physically and emotionally exhausting. Instead of coming home to a safe place, you find yourself worrying about what your spouse will do.
When you start to move toward divorce, it can feel like there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel. You have hope that after the divorce, your spouse will not be able to hurt you anymore. However, in some cases, spouses find that there is still abuse long after the divorce is complete.
Here’s what you should know about the types of domestic abuse that can linger after a divorce.
Parental alienation
Trying to support your children through a divorce is already a challenging situation. Unfortunately, an abusive ex may take advantage of the situation.
When your spouse no longer has access to you directly, they may try to put your children in the middle of the dispute. They may try blocking your access to them or giving them negative information about you.
In these situations, it is crucial to document what your spouse did and its impact. You can use this information at future court appearances to demonstrate why there should be changes in the custody agreement.
Continued manipulation
After being married, there are often many areas where your lives overlap. It can become difficult to separate your lives after a divorce, especially when you have an emotionally abusive ex.
Often, family members or common friends get caught in the crossfire between two spouses. Similar to parental alienation, an emotionally abusive spouse may try to turn loved ones against you.
Divorcing an abusive spouse is often the first step in relieving a problematic situation. As you work through your divorce, you may need to continue setting boundaries so you can move forward.