Episode 14: The Biggest Reason Dating is Hard After Divorce (And What To Do About It)

Come and say hi to us on Insta! @delia.monk x @sambrindlecoaching In this episode, Delia and Sam explore the nature of anxiety, how it manifests, and practical strategies to manage and reduce its impact. They share personal experiences, mental models, and actionable tips to help listeners navigate anxiety more effectively. Listen to find out: 🔥 The first thing to do the second a spiral starts, and how to tell a thought from a fact when your brain is being very convincing 🔥 Why trying to get rid of anxiety for good can make it worse 🔥 How to find what’s really sitting underneath the worry, and the one question to ask once you do 🔥 The seesaw that explains why anxiety rises, and what to put on the other side 🔥 Why “just meditate” can be the worst advice for a noisy mind, and what gets you out of your head instead 🔥 The journal that rebuilds your trust in yourself, built from the times you were sure it was all over Keywords: anxiety, mental health, coping strategies, mindfulness, self-awareness, resilience, mental models, emotional health, stress management, personal growth Chapters; 00:00 Introduction to Anxiety and Its Impact 01:56 Personal Experiences with Anxiety 04:13 Understanding What Anxiety Feels Like 05:55 The Physical and Mental Symptoms of Anxiety 08:00 Sharing and Talking About Anxiety 10:05 Strategies to Recognize and Catch Anxious Thoughts 12:02 Building Self-Trust and Belief in Your Capabilities 15:01 The Role of Faith, Trust, and Hope in Anxiety Management 18:00 Practical Techniques: Breathing, Flow, and Presence 21:03 The Power of Reframing and Positive Mindset 23:48 Personal Stories of Overcoming Anxiety 27:07 The Importance of Sharing and Support 30:02 Next Episode Preview: Overcoming Suffering and Building Resilience

Sam had never lived alone before her divorce. Neither had Delia. And nobody really prepares you for what it’s actually like — the strange mix of liberation and chaos, the bad habits that creep in when no one’s watching, and the surprisingly complicated question of whether you’re actually lonely or just a bit bored. This week Sam and Delia get into all of it. 🔥 The first night in a new house — what it actually felt like for both of them and why it didn’t feel real for months 🔥 What happens to your habits when no one is watching — and the rules both Sam and Delia have had to make for themselves to stop the spiral 🔥 Why living alone is the ultimate test of self-trust — and what Sam did to become the person she actually wants to be when no one else is there 🔥 The difference between loneliness, boredom, jealousy and missing your kids — and why lumping them all together as loneliness isn’t helping you 🔥 Why living alone for the first time isn’t something to survive — it’s an invitation to design exactly the life you want when no one else is watching Also: an honest conversation about beer, cigarettes, late nights and bad habits — and the moment both of them realised that looking after yourself when no one is watching is actually the whole point. Listen now.

Sam lives around the corner from her ex-husband. They share the school runs, the sports weekends, the WhatsApp group. They went on holiday together this summer. And some people think that's a problem. This week Delia asks her about it — and Sam talks through what it actually took to get here, what the early days really looked like, and why she genuinely believes that the closer divorced parents can be, the better it is for everyone. Especially the kids. 🔥 What a child psychologist told Delia about the four levels of post-divorce parenting — and where a good co-parenting relationship sits on that list 🔥 Why being close to your ex actually reduces the chance of your kids wanting you back together — not the other way around 🔥 How Sam and her ex stay on the same page with four kids so there's no room for anyone to play one parent off against the other 🔥 The honest truth about how long it took to get here — and what she'd say to anyone who can't imagine it from where they're standing right now 🔥 Why any future partner would need to be completely on board with this — and why that feels like a filter rather than a problem This one is for anyone who's been told the way they're doing divorce is wrong. There are no rules. There is only what works for your family. Listen now.

This week on Divorce Awakening, Sam and Delia answer a listener stuck with an ex who won't reply to anything — not the after-school club form, not the budget question, not a single message.

Delia and Sam share a mix of awkward, funny, and genuinely hopeful post-divorce dating stories (yes, there is hope!).