Why is Divorce a Dirty Word?

Why is Divorce a Dirty Word? 

I was married at 23 and divorced by 30. That year my closest friend became engaged and I "healed" from my divorce by working my ass off as a bridesmaid. The coincidence was far from enjoyable, and I did my very best to be a supportive friend and to act as if the divorce meant nothing. The truth was far from the way that I portrayed myself to the world. The divorce caused me to feel a deep sense of shame. I felt as if I failed all of my wedding guests and I struggled to find direction. I never thought about going to therapy for something as trivial as a life changing divorce. Instead I behaved as if it meant nothing, and that my "starter marriage" was simply a juvenile mistake. I found that the more I minimized the experience, the more shame I felt. I would strongly suggest that you avoid my mistakes.

As I work as a therapist, I have found so many adults leaving marriages. My clients come to me at all phases of their separation or divorce process, and the stigma remains. As a person (and a therapist) I feel strongly that divorce is a life changing incident. Even the best divorce is earth shattering and should always be a time for therapy, for reflection, and for hope.