When going through a divorce, you may find yourself in a situation in which you no longer recognize the person that you once loved and the person with whom you imagined spending the rest of your life. While you probably remember them as once being loving, caring, empathetic and friendly, they may now have turned on you, and act in an aggressive, bitter or bullying way toward you.
It’s not expected that you will have a great relationship with your ex during your divorce — there is a reason why you are divorcing, after all. However, it’s never acceptable for your ex to bully you or intimidate you in any way. If you are worried about your safety at any point or if your life is becoming affected by their behavior, you can contact the police to have an emergency restraining order put into place. If you just need help in being able to navigate the divorce process, an experienced family law attorney could give you the confidence you need to take back control. The following are some initial steps you can take.
Recognize what bullying behaviors are
Bullying is not limited to the school ground — it can take place between adults. It might look like attempts to isolate you from your family or friends, or it might be a case of your ex trying to spread lies about you online or to those close to you. If your ex is trying to threaten you or make you feel scared in any way, they are engaging in bullying.
Recognize what you can do to put a stop to it
The first thing you should do is put clear boundaries in place regarding where you meet and how you communicate. If these are not respected, you can put a restraining order in place. You should try to stand your ground and never allow the bully to dictate your thoughts or actions.
If you are dealing with a bullying divorcing spouse, one of the best things you can do is to ensure that you are aware of the law and how it is in place to protect your needs.