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Mental illness and its impact on divorce

On Behalf of | Jun 29, 2022 | High Asset Divorce |

Millions of people struggle with mental health issues. For Texas residents who are dealing with these struggles, a high asset divorce can be particularly challenging. Fortunately, there are steps that can be taken to make the road less stressful and to keep the process moving forward despite the hurdles. 

Approximately 20% of Americans are living with some form of mental illness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. These issues can range from mild to severe, and they can present in many forms, including the following: 

  • Trauma-related problems like PTSD. Anyone can develop them if exposed to the wrong circumstances. 
  • Addictions from substance abuse that impact someone’s life in a negative way and are too strong to easily break.  
  • Certain psychological conditions, such as ADHD and autism, that are actually innate parts of someone’s brain. 
  • Mood disorders like bipolar disorder and depression, in which patients can’t regulate their own moods. 
  • Psychotic disorders like schizophrenia, which can make it difficult for sufferers to stay in touch with reality without proper medical support. 
  • Mental disorders like borderline personality disorder occur when someone’s personality is shaped from a young age in a way that makes it difficult for him or her to achieve healthy relationships. 

Seeking help and support 

People with these disorders may struggle in different ways, including having trouble keeping meetings, not being able to handle stressful circumstances, acting professionally in court, and not being able to communicate all their thoughts, among others. Planning ahead and having a support network in place may go a long way toward thwarting uneasiness in potentially unnerving situations.  

It goes without saying that anyone suffering from one of the mental health issues above will most likely face a significantly higher amount of stress and challenges than normal when confronted with the end of their marriage. Having an understanding lawyer experienced in high asset divorce cases can prove invaluable to achieving the best possible outcome. One’s attorney can carefully guide his or her client through all the aspects of the divorce process, preventing potential missteps and ensuring the client’s rights are fully protected.