Divorce -- whether you want it or not -- can be one of the most traumatic experiences you will ever encounter. Whether married three years or 30, most people are unprepared for the consequences of divorce. But now is the time to start looking to the future and taking care of yourself. You have many issues to deal with, emotional, legal and financial.

Divorce may be a big blow to your self-esteem. And because it marks the death of a marriage, divorce also evokes emotions similar to those you feel when a loved one dies: anger, guilt, sadness, depression or fear of being alone. Just as people grieve for a lost loved one, you need to grieve for the lost relationship. But if you discover that you are paralyzed by such feelings and unable to take positive actions to build a new future, you may want to seek professional help. Letting feelings of guilt or anger fester will affect not only your well-being, but also the quality of life of those around you. It is particularly important to deal with your feelings and put them behind you if you have children.