Navigating Divorce, Anxiety, and Self-Trust: A Raw Conversation with Stacey Sherrell

Shannon Jackson
3 days ago
3 min read

Going through a separation or divorce can feel like being thrown into a storm with no compass—and when anxiety gets added to the mix, it can feel downright impossible to navigate. In this episode of the A Healthy Push podcast, I sat down with therapist and mom Stacey Sherrell for an incredibly real and vulnerable conversation about what it actually looks like to go through a separation while parenting, feeling anxious, and working to rebuild your life, and yourself.

The Truth About Divorce: It's Never Simple

Stacey shares that her decision to leave her marriage didn’t come overnight. Like many, she spent years, five or six, to be exact, living with an inner knowing that the relationship wasn’t working. But between fear, the hope that things would change, and the pressure of having young kids, she delayed the decision. This back-and-forth phase is one that so many people find themselves in, often quietly and with deep emotional turmoil.

And as Stacey puts it, the hardest part wasn’t necessarily leaving—it was everything that came after.

“You think, okay, I made the decision, and now things are going to get better… but that’s when a whole new marathon starts.”

The Anxiety Hits Hard

Even as a therapist, Stacey found herself overwhelmed by anxiety in the early days of her separation. She recalls moments in her apartment during her nesting schedule where panic, overwhelm, and restlessness took over. At times, the anxiety felt like it would consume her.

But she also reminded us of something so powerful: those feelings didn’t break her.

Instead, they became an invitation to lean on support, try new coping tools, and remind herself that she could survive hard things.

Rebuilding Trust… with Yourself

When a relationship ends, especially one that’s been a big part of your adult life, you’re often left feeling like you don’t even know who you are anymore. Both Stacey and I talked about the work of rebuilding that relationship with yourself, learning to be alone (or okay with not being alone), and sitting with the discomfort that comes with growth.

There’s no perfect way to do this. Stacey openly shared how she still struggles with alone time, sometimes leans into distractions like dating, and is working to find that balance between being with others and being with herself.

The takeaway? You don’t need to do it perfectly—you just need to keep showing up for yourself in small, meaningful ways.

The Shame Spiral (and How to Get Out of It)

One of the most powerful parts of our conversation was unpacking the shame that often follows a breakup or divorce. From worrying about failing your kids to fearing that you’ll never be loved again, these thoughts can get loud.

And let’s be clear: divorce isn’t a failure. You didn’t fail, you made a decision based on who you were and what you knew then. That decision deserves compassion, not shame.

“Just because it feels bad doesn’t mean it was the wrong decision,” Stacey said.

Coping Tips We Swear By

If you’re going through this right now, or even just contemplating a big decision, here are some things that helped both of us:

Walks. So many walks. Movement helps.
Podcasts and pleasure reading - nothing serious, just joy.
Letting yourself feel all the feelings (even when they’re awful).
Medication or therapy if it’s right for you.
Connection! Reaching out to friends or community can be life-saving.

Final Thoughts: You’re Not Alone

There is no one-size-fits-all journey through divorce or healing. But if there’s one thing this conversation made clear, it’s that connection makes the road a little less bumpy.

So whether you’re in the middle of making a hard decision, feeling the heaviness of a recent breakup, or just trying to rebuild trust with yourself, know that you’re not doing it wrong. You’re doing your best, and that counts for so much.

And if you take nothing else from this conversation, take this: Your feelings won’t break you. You are stronger than the hardest moments, and there’s a whole community of people (like us!) who get it.