Divorce, heartache and health: facts and myth ============================================= ![Divorce, heartache and health: facts and myth](https://vardags.com/images/pictures/_360/827186bb8f4f0ed6b63fd3cb467b9642.jpeg)Actor Laurence Fox made headlines last week, as he spoke out about the physical and emotional toll wrought by his divorce from Billie Piper, his wife of eight years and the mother of his two sons. The *Lewis* star [told](https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/laurence-fox-billie-piper-split-8906842) the *Sunday Mirror* that he has suffered from insomnia and panic attacks since his split from Ms Piper back in March, claiming he has "not slept in six months", and that the "trauma" of divorce had "derailed him". This admission stands in stark contrast to the trend of amicable A-list divorces, which rewrite the traditional narrative of divorce, shifting the focus away from failure and heartbreak. Instead, these parting couples focus on continued friendship and, where applicable, an ongoing commitment to harmoniously co-parenting their children. Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin are perhaps the most famous ambassadors of the amicable divorce, announcing their separation as a 'conscious uncoupling'. The now-infamous term rejects the notion that longevity is no way to gauge the success, or lack thereof, of a relationship, and instead [reframes divorce](https://goop.com/conscious-uncoupling-2/) as an opportunity for personal growth. Of course, reframing divorce thusly does not eliminate the heartache wrought by the end of a significant relationship. Furthermore, whilst Laurence Fox's experience of divorce is certainly not representative of every divorcee, there's no denying that such a life-changing event can have adverse effects on both body and mind. *NHS Choices* has [even published](https://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/mentalhealth/Pages/healthydivorce.aspx) tips for a stress-free divorce, explaining that divorce can "cause problems such as stress, anxiety, depression and panic attacks". A recent *Daily Mail* article [cites](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3804178/From-PTSD-depression-eczema-muscle-pain-devastating-toll-divorce-health-experts-warn.html) a "growing swell of research" into so-called 'Divorce Stress Syndrome', which is not only associated with emotional distress, but physical symptoms such as eczema and muscle pain. Yet research in this field is contentious. Last year, a study conducted by Duke University in North Carolina [identified](https://vardags.com/family-law/broken-hearts-divorce-cause-real-heart-damage/) a correlation between divorce and cardiovascular health problems. Months later, however, research by three University of London constituent colleges [found](https://vardags.com/family-law/divorce-can-be-healthy/) that individuals who divorced but later remarried had similar states of health to those who remained married. Furthermore, long-term cohabitees had "almost identical standards of health" to their married peers. This suggests that although those in relationships tend to be healthier, marriage itself is not so relevant. It's also worth taking into account how other stressful life events can impact health. A [2005 study](https://sf.oxfordjournals.org/content/84/1/451) by researchers at Pennsylvania State University tracked "unhappy marriages" over a 12 year period and, perhaps unsurprisingly discovered that "long-term, low-quality marriages have significant negative effects on overall well-being", including health. The study also found that unhappily married people also "have lower levels of life satisfaction, self-esteem and overall health than individuals who divorce and remain unmarried". For those seeking to mitigate divorce-induced stress, the notion that leaving an unhappy marriage could actually be better for one's health in the long-term is a comforting one. Vardags director and seasoned divorce solicitor Georgina Hamblin has encouraging insights for those embarking on divorce who are struggling to see the light at the end of the tunnel: > "We see a huge change in people from the beginning of their proceedings to the end. In many cases it is a sense of liberation. We see many of our clients flourish as they grown in confidence and learn to stand on their own two feet, often for the very first time." Georgina advises that "family lawyers and clients alike need to work together to make divorce an altogether happier and healthier experience. It does not need to rip families apart and does not have to leave scars." "Ayesha Vardag - Britain's top divorce lawyer." ![The Huffington Post](https://vardags.com/images/logo/huffpost.png) "Ayesha Vardag - Woman of the Year"![GG2](https://vardags.com/images/logo/gg2-3.png) "Leading, Magic Circle law firm."Mr Justice Coleridge "A handful of firms dominate the so-called 'glamour' end of the market ... Vardags"The Times "One of the best divorce lawyers in the country"Marie Claire "Ayesha Vardag - 'diva of divorce' for the world's super rich" ![BBC](https://vardags.com/images/logo/bbc.png) "Dr Stephen Bence is a financial genius."Lewis Marks KC "Ayesha Vardag - the Queen of divorce"Daily Mail "Vardags brilliantly argued my case to a resounding victory"Pauline Chai (client) "Britain's top divorce lawyer" ![The Telegraph](https://vardags.com/images/logo/telegraph.png) More Divorce news ----------------- [Ayesha Vardag on whether sperm could be considered a marital asset](https://vardags.com/posts/ayesha-vardag-could-sperm-be-marital-asset "Ayesha Vardag on whether sperm could be considered a marital asset") [TomKat Divorce: Ayesha Vardag talks to the Daily Telegraph](https://vardags.com/posts/tomkat-divorce-ayesha-talks "TomKat Divorce: Ayesha Vardag talks to the Daily Telegraph") [Divorce, heartache and health: facts and myth](https://vardags.com/family-law/divorce-heartache-health-facts-myth "Divorce, heartache and health: facts and myth") [Don't let the divorce turn out worse than the marriage](https://vardags.com/posts/dont-let-divorce-marriage "Don't let the divorce turn out worse than the marriage") [Ayesha Vardag - Divorce Diva](https://vardags.com/posts/ayesha-vardag-divorce-diva "Ayesha Vardag Divorce Diva") Articles by Maire Connor ------------------------ [The end of talaq in India? Supreme Court could declare practice unconstitutional](https://vardags.com/family-law/talaq-india-unconstitutional "The end of talaq in India? Supreme Court could declare practice unconstitutional") [Vardags' client secures England's largest ever Part III award](https://vardags.com/family-law/vardags-client-englands-largest-ever-part-iii-award "Vardags' client secures England's largest ever Part III award") [Divorce, heartache and health: facts and myth](https://vardags.com/family-law/divorce-heartache-health-facts-myth "Divorce, heartache and health: facts and myth") [Children arbitration scheme: first hearing under new initiative takes place](https://vardags.com/family-law/children-arbitration-scheme "Children arbitration scheme: first hearing under new initiative takes place") [International Women's Day: celebrating 97 years of women in UK law](https://vardags.com/family-law/97-years-women-in-law "International Womens Day: celebrating 97 years of women in UK law")