Agra: In recent years, the term “Gray Divorce” has gained significant attention, with an increasing number of such cases raising questions about the nature of relationships in society. The growing number of these cases, influenced by changing lifestyles, social pressures, financial independence, and the mental health impact, was discussed in a workshop held on the fourth day of the ongoing seven-day Mental Health Carnival at the Feelings Minds institution.
The workshop, focusing on the topic of “Increasing Divorce Cases,” was conducted at the Feelings Minds office located at Vimal Vihar, Sikandra-Bodla Road. Leading experts shared their insights on this pressing issue. The panel included Dr. Richa Srivastava (Head of the Physiology Department, SN Medical College), Dr. Renu Agarwal (Head of the Community Medicine Department), Dr. Suman Gupta (Gynecologist), Advocate Namrata Mishra, and Dr. Chinu Agarwal, the founder of Feelings Minds.
Lack of Communication and Changing Lifestyles Contributing to Divorce:
Experts discussed how the growing distance in relationships is a result of stress, lack of communication, societal expectations, and changing lifestyles. Dr. Chinu Agarwal emphasized, “In our social structure, we are taught that a relationship should be maintained. However, this mindset often leads to carrying the burdens of unresolved issues. While externally a family may seem happy, internally the silence and unresolved tensions can break the relationship. Over the years, this leads to gray divorce.” She stressed the importance of regularly assessing the health of a relationship.
Gray Divorce and Mental Health:
Dr. Richa Srivastava shared that today’s fast-paced lifestyle, the desire for personal freedom, and excessive use of digital mediums are creating distance between partners, ultimately impacting mental health. She highlighted the increasing significance of mental health in today’s scenario.
The Importance of Ongoing Communication:
Dr. Renu Agarwal explained that “Gray Divorce” refers to couples who have spent years together but choose to end their marriage. When children leave the nest, parents often lose their only point of connection with each other, leading to cracks in their relationship. She stressed that communication in relationships should never stop and that if daily conflicts persist, it is better to part ways with mutual understanding rather than live in suffocating situations.
Self-care and Mutual Support:
Dr. Suman Gupta highlighted that maintaining one’s health and taking time for each other is crucial for the well-being of the relationship. She suggested that mutual care and support are key to keeping love and cooperation alive in marriage.
Dealing with Gray Divorce Through Counseling and Understanding:
Advocate Namrata Mishra discussed how to handle Gray Divorce, emphasizing the importance of counseling, open conversations, new hobbies, creativity, social support, and self-care. She added, “If the relationship has no scope for improvement, separating is better than staying in a toxic environment, especially for the children’s sake. Parents’ decisions should be respected by their children.” She stressed that if a relationship must end, it should be done amicably, without blame or bitterness.
Upcoming Workshop:
Dr. Ravindra Agarwal, co-founder of the institution, announced that on Thursday, the fifth day of the carnival, Parenting Coach Swati Jain would deliver a lecture on “Awareness for Work-Life Balance” from 3 PM to 5 PM.
