This Can’t Be Happening: Facing the Fog of Denial After Divorce

Why It’s Crucial to Acknowledge Denial Early

1. Healing starts with honesty.
   If you can’t name where you are, you can’t move forward. Recognizing denial opens the door to deeper emotional work.
    
2. Unspoken pain becomes silent poison.
   What you refuse to face will eventually show up—often through anxiety, resentment, or emotional shutdown.
    
3. Time doesn't heal what you avoid.
   You can’t skip steps on the road to recovery. Denial delays your arrival to peace, joy, and new beginnings.
    

How to Gently Step Out of Denial

• Speak it out loud.
  Say the words: “I am divorced.” Not to shame yourself, but to acknowledge your present. That statement, though hard, is powerful.
   
• Write the truth.
  Journaling allows your heart to speak when your mouth cannot. What is really hurting? What are you still hoping for? What are you afraid of letting go?
   
• Tell someone you trust.
  There is freedom in confession. Let someone safe hold space for your pain—without judgment or advice.
   
• Invite God into the fog.
  Denial tries to numb. But God brings light to the places we hide. Ask Him to meet you here. He is not afraid of your brokenness.
   

A Word from Our Heart to Yours

You don’t have to rush out of denial. But you do have to be honest about it. The good news? Denial doesn’t mean defeat—it means you’ve begun the process.

You are not stuck. You are transitioning. The fog will lift. The truth will steady you. And yes—there is life after this.

We’ve been where you are. We didn’t just survive divorce—we found love again, within ourselves and with each other. You can, too.