Divorce is already an emotionally draining process, and if you’re dealing with PTSD, anxiety, or trauma, the last thing you need is a meddling relative making things worse. When someone is harassing you through emails, manipulating the situation, or trying to control your decisions, it can feel like an added attack on your emotional well-being.

It’s not just frustrating—it’s harmful. And it needs to be dealt with in a way that protects your mental health, legal standing, and personal peace.

1. Show the Harassing Correspondence to Your Psychologist

If these emails are triggering anxiety, panic, or PTSD symptoms, don’t keep them to yourself. Your psychologist needs to see what you’re dealing with so they can help you process the stress and guide you in responding (or not responding) in a way that protects your well-being.

• Your psychologist can validate your feelings and confirm that this behavior is not okay.
• They can help you develop coping strategies to prevent emotional distress when receiving these emails.
• If the harassment is escalating, they can support you in taking further steps to protect yourself, such as legal action.

Key Tip: If reading the emails is overwhelming, consider forwarding them to your psychologist without reading them first. They can help you break down the situation objectively rather than emotionally.

2. Keep Every Email—Do Not Delete Anything

Even if they make your blood boil, keep them all. These messages are not just personal attacks; they are evidence. If you need to take legal action or establish a pattern of harassment, you’ll need these records.

• Save them in a separate email folder.
• Print them out and keep them in a secure place.
• Consider forwarding them to your lawyer if necessary.

3. Limit or Cut Off Contact with the Meddling Relative

• If you don’t need to engage with them, block their email or send their messages straight to a folder you don’t check regularly.
• If you must communicate with them (e.g., due to family dynamics), keep responses brief, factual, and emotionless—or better yet, have your lawyer handle communication.

4. Inform Your Lawyer—Harassment Can Be Addressed Legally

If these emails are:
✅ Harassing
✅ Threatening
✅ Pressuring you to act against your best interest
✅ Spreading misinformation or interfering with legal proceedings

…then they are not just annoying—they could be legally actionable. Your lawyer can assess whether these emails cross a legal line and advise you on your options.

5. Prioritize Your Mental Health Over Their Drama

The biggest mistake a meddling relative wants you to make? Engaging with their chaos. Their goal is often to upset you, control you, or wear you down. The best response? Refusing to play their game.

• Redirect your energy into your healing, not their manipulation.
• Lean on your real support system—your psychologist, trusted family, and friends.
• Remind yourself: Their interference is about them, not you. You are not responsible for their opinions, drama, or hidden agendas.

Final Thought

Harassment during divorce—especially when you’re already dealing with PTSD—is completely unacceptable. You’re doing the right thing by recognizing the damage it’s causing and taking steps to protect yourself. Keep your psychologist and lawyer involved, document everything, and most importantly—don’t let their toxic behavior take up space in your mind.

Would you like help drafting a formal response (or no-contact message) for this relative, or are you looking to escalate the matter legally?