Breakups always hurt. Period. Even if you’ve been in a relationship for only a few weeks or months, splitting up with your significant other is often heart-wrenching. This is irrespective of whether you were the one to initiate the breakup or found yourself at the receiving end of a split.
After a breakup, it’s only natural to lose your sense of reality and step into the endless rabbit hole of depression. Research has also shown that when a relationship ends, it often clouds your sense of self and causes an identity crisis. You’ll likely lose the motivation to go about your daily life and find yourself curling up in your bed and sulking for days.
Needless to say, if you don’t cope after a breakup, it’ll take a toll on your physical and mental wellbeing. Also, it’ll have a negative impact on your personal, professional, and academic life. That’s why it is essential to find the right coping mechanism that will help you survive the post-breakup trauma.
Having said that, there’s no magical formula to help you get over a breakup with the snap of a finger. There will be days when you’ll wake up feeling great only to sink into grief and depression a few hours later. Familiar places and objects might trigger memories of your past relationship and renew your pain all over again.
If you’ve recently broken up with your SO or know someone who’s dealing with a breakup, here are a few ways to cope with the situation:
1. Express Your Emotions
Anger, fear, resentment, sadness, embarrassment, betrayal, jealousy, shock, denial – this is just a glimpse of the emotions one experiences while overcoming a breakup. Not to mention, the feeling of rejection, shame, and self-doubt that engulfs your mind after a split. While your natural instinct might be to suppress your emotions and keep them to yourself, it can do more harm than good. Not dealing with your emotions in the right way can further affect your mental health, causing serious disorders such as depressions and anxiety.
That’s why it is important to let your emotions out. Allow yourself to feel vulnerable and express whatever you’re feeling at the moment. Sometimes, just crying your eyes out can be just what you need. You should also consider talking to a trusted friend or just scribbling your thoughts in a journal. The important thing is to express your feelings without worrying about being judged.
2. Prioritize Self-Care
When a romantic relationship ends, it might feel like the end of the world. Your world turns upside down and you lose the will to do simple activities. Even something as banal and straightforward as getting out of bed every morning can become a tedious task. In such a situation, it’s only natural for you to stop caring about anything anymore.
But this is also the time when your body and mind need the maximum attention. From creating a daily exercise routine to following a healthy and wholesome diet – there’s a lot you can do to take care of yourself. Instead of eating a ton of refined, processed, and sugary foods, try to include stress-busting healthy foods such as nuts, eggs, flaxseeds, etc. in your diet.
It’s especially important to prioritize self-care when you’re going through a tough time, such as after a breakup. Give yourself permission to take a break from your normal routine and focus on yourself. This could mean spending time alone, indulging in your favorite hobbies, or simply taking a few deep breaths and finding a moment of peace. You can also do things that make you happy and lift your spirits, whether it’s spending time with friends, reading a book, or going for a walk in nature. After a breakup, it’s important to give yourself space and time to heal. This may mean setting boundaries with your ex or limiting your contact with them.
Even if you weren’t particularly active earlier, this is a good time to start with a light exercise routine. It can be just the motivation you need to wake up every morning. Also, it’ll help take your mind off of the grief and sadness, at least for a while. However, make sure you don’t get obsessed with staying fit or getting in shape.
3. Be Grateful
After a breakup, your natural tendency will be to embrace a negative outlook towards life. You might stop appreciating the little things that have been making your life better. From a stable job and a safe home to a loving family and caring friends – you still have many good things in your life. You just have to change your perspective and be grateful for everything you have.
Try starting a gratitude journal by listing three to five good things that happened throughout your day. Repeat this every day and before you know, you’ll have a lot to be thankful for. This can go a long way to change your outlook and help you embrace a positive attitude towards life.
4. Help Others
Studies have shown that helping other people and showing kindness can have a positive impact on your mental health. Even a simple gesture such as helping an elderly person cross the road can help you feel good about yourself. It’ll also help divert your attention from your pain and give you a fresh perspective on life. Plus, it can go a long way to give you a sense of purpose and improve your feeling of self-worth.
5. Consult an Expert
Not everyone has adequate coping skills to deal with a breakup all by themselves. If you’re feeling particularly vulnerable or stressed out, you should consider seeing a therapist. They can suggest the right coping mechanism to help you deal with your emotions and make peace with them.
Breakups can be emotionally difficult, and it’s normal to feel a range of emotions like sadness, anger, and loneliness. If you feel overwhelmed by these emotions, you shouldn’t handle it by yourself, you need the help of other people, like friends and family to cope. You may also reach out to break up support groups. According to Andrew Ferebee of Knowledge for Men, “When you join a breakup support group, one of the first and most important lessons you’ll learn is how to stop these unhealthy coping mechanisms and replace them with healthier, more sustainable ones.”
Likewise, you could also try reaching out to a psychic such as a tarot card reader or palmist to get a grip on your feelings. Psychic readings often give you an insight into your past relationships and help you understand why things didn’t work out with your ex. This, in turn, will help you find closure and get ready to move on.
Having said that, you should always vet the credentials of a psychic reader before consulting them. You can always check out genuine and unbiased reviews and ratings of the best psychics on MysticMag. Also, you should consider whether the psychic’s wavelength matches yours. Otherwise, they may not succeed in providing you with the right solutions.
Have you used any other coping techniques to deal with a breakup? Share your tips in the comments section below.
