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Shock is a normal reaction to a traumatic experience. It's your body's way of protecting you in a difficult situation.
Shock might make you feel dazed and distracted. Or it might make you just feel numb, or like crying all the time.
Shock will pass.
Q & A
There are lots of people around you who can help. Tell your parents, teacher, school counsellor, family doctor or another adult you trust.
If you aren't getting the help you think you need, keep asking until you get it.
No, you don't. You have the right to love and be loved by both parents.
If you are feeling pressured to take sides, and you feel you are caught in the middle of your parents' problems, tell them.
Ideally, your parents will make the decisions together about who you will live with and how that will work. Your opinion should be taken into account.
If they can't decide themselves, they might go to a mediator for help in reaching an agreement. Or they might have to go to court and have a judge make the decisions for them.
There are many reasons why parents decide to split up. And with each couple, there might be one main reason, or a whole pile of reasons.
Parents usually try very hard to solve their problems before they take action. If you're not sure what your parents' reasons are for splitting up, you can always ask.
You are not the reason for your parents splitting up. Parents split up because of problems in their relationship.
Families Change
Separation and divorce have a profound impact on all family members. Loss of security is often coupled with intense feelings of grief. The stress can be overwhelming for kids, teens and parents.
This website can help.
Get age-appropriate information to guide you through separation and divorce. Be sure the information is correct for your province. Select your age group and explore content in others sections too.