Effects of divorce vary for each person and will be different among men and women. Although there are common feelings and thoughts, divorce will not affect the sexes the same way.

For women feelings of depression, anxiety and frustration seem to be the most common. Grieving the loss of a partner and financial security adds to the emotional aspects that may be hard to overcome.

An interesting fact is women will initiate divorce twice as often as men will. Women are less likely to tolerate cheating and emotional abandonment than men.

90% of women will receive custody of any children - even if they did not receive custody in court. Courts tend to award custody to mothers over the fathers, but statistics reveal, that even if the court is not involved women are the caregivers.

Financial issues tend to affect women more than men after divorce. 60% of those under the poverty line are divorced women and children. The fact that men tend to make more in their careers than women and the fact that this support is no longer present adds to this. Single mothers can support up to four children on an average after tax income of $12,200.

Although many mothers do receive child support payments, 65% do not receive any payments. 75% receive court ordered support payments - this figure is rising since the courts are now creating uniform child support payments, garnishment and even suspension of license renewal.

An interesting psychological aspect for women, they feel less stress than men after divorcing. Women tend to adjust quicker and better than men to the loss of their partner. Women tend to notice marital problems sooner and will feel relief when those problems end. Women are more likely to rely on friends and family to help them overcome a divorce than men as well. Women tend to gain some self esteem and confidence in themselves as they embark on a new life.

Women who go to work and put their children in child care tend to have a stigma on them, unlike with men.

Of course there are some women who feel more negative effects like fear, guilt, anger, feeling like they failed, loss of trust and even can have weight gain. Having a support system can help to get these feelings out and heal them.

Positive feelings can be a sense of freedom, renewed self esteem, feelings of closure and relief - even a sense of accomplishment.