Google Trends data shows searches for “divorce lawyers” has increased by 817% in the last week.

After Stewarts Law Firm revealed a 122% increase in divorce applications between July and October last year, experts are predicting another surge in post lockdown divorce rates for 2022.

The team at Essential Living has partnered up with Relationship Coach and Counsellor, Juliette Smith on expert advice for surviving the post lockdown ‘divorce boom’.

Juliette Smith is a highly-skilled relationship coach and counsellor with 20 years of experience in providing specialist support for transforming relationships.

Embrace the space
Lockdown has caused many couples to feel more strained than normal under the threat of its imposed conditions, leading them to consider divorce as the strain has shed light on more problems than connections during this time. This is happening throughout the world with couples looking into such areas as divorce lawyers in Harrisburg PA as well as other law firms, for example, as they want to break their union.

Juliette Smith says “Family lawyers are expecting divorce petitions to increase this year as people will feel more secure and more confident in their ability to leave a relationship that’s just not working for them.”

This tension building between couples will cause them to become emotionally disconnected from each other as well as temporarily losing their ability to think rationally. Domestic violence, stress, anxiety, misunderstandings, and other factors, to name a few, are understandably on the rise during the lockdown and may have contributed to an increase in divorce rates. And, if that is the case, it is preferable that people get divorced by hiring a divorce lawyer and get out of such toxic relationships. However, if it’s merely because the couples have been living together all the time and are getting irritated, they should try to work it out or see a marriage counselor give it a chance.

Juliette believes relationships thrive when each partner has space and the freedom to do their own thing, so spending at least five to six months together out of lockdown will have a significant impact on a relationship.

“Once this threat has gone away it is possible that couples will reconnect and be able to repair the damage that has been done.”

Whilst putting the saying, absence makes the heart grow fonder’ to the test, experts warn you must not become emotionally detached from a partner. Sex, an intimate act too plays an important role in maintaining a healthy relationship. It would be ideal for couples to indulge in some lovemaking during this time, to make their bonds stronger. Since women might require more time to reach orgasm than men, men who have premature ejaculation or men who cannot satisfy their partner’s orgasm experience during sex might want to use something like a delay spray for men. The latter can also be an option for couples who want their sexual indulgence to last longer. Beyond having this physical connection, maintaining a good level of communication, teamwork and understanding will also help to slowly build a different connection that may not have been there before lockdown.