How to Get Over a Breakup: 7 Things Therapists Want You to Know
The end of a relationship comes with a slew of big feelings. Try following this expert advice to get through it.
Breakups can be really hard, and recovering from them can sometimes be even harder, bringing a host of emotions. Shame, guilt, anger, sadness, and sometimes relief, can all be a part of breaking up, says Kelli Harding, MD, MPH, an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City.
Many people may also experience grief when a relationship comes to an end. “Breakups are a grieving process with a wide range of emotions,” says Jessica Leader, a licensed marriage and family therapist with Root to Rise Therapy in Los Angeles.
A big part of that grief comes from the loss of what you thought your future would look like.
“Grief over a different future than imagined is often a part of the dynamic,” Dr. Harding says. To make matters worse, the end of a long-term relationship may entail thorny logistical questions, like how to handle children and finances.
Though breakups are always hard, people generally become better equipped to deal with them as time goes on. “There is a saying with grief that is true for breakups too: It never gets better, only easier,” Harding says. “With life experience, we often learn that everything is temporary, including the pain of negative emotions such as loss and grief.”
That said, there are several things you can do to help yourself get over a breakup. Read on for seven therapist tips on how to minimize the pain of ending a relationship and start the healing process.
The pain you feel may be temporary, but that doesn’t make it easy. We asked psychologists for advice on how to cope. Here are seven tips to help you get through.
“I often have clients write a letter to their ex-partner thanking them for what they gained in the relationship and saying goodbye,” Leader says. This exercise is adapted from the book Conscious Uncoupling by Katherine Woodward Thomas, and it could give you the closure you need.
Leader says she has couples share the letter when they’re in couple’s therapy for separation, but it doesn’t have to be shared with your ex. For most people, the benefit comes from writing out your thoughts and closing that chapter. It’s about putting your thoughts and feelings down on paper for yourself, in order to help you move on.
“Lean on your support system,” Leader says. Let your friends support you so you can have extra love around you. Say yes to invitations, whether it’s to catch up over lunch or a coffee, or just to hang out on the couch.
The harsh truth is that feeling better is probably going to take some time. You may even have a string of good days before something triggers you and puts you right back where you started. “Recovering doesn’t always happen linearly, and sometimes strong emotions show up out of the blue,” Harding says. “Please know this is to be expected.” Emotions may come in waves, with a good few days leading way to a tough one.
It’s also possible you won’t ever get over this person completely, and that’s normal too, Harding says. The key is to learn to carry on. “Loss is a part of the education of the human heart,” Harding says.
“Whatever you experience, just please know it’s okay to have the feelings you have,” Harding says. And if you think about it, simply having those feelings shows your openness to love. “The fact that you have the capacity to feel so deeply is a wonderful prognosis for your next relationship,” Harding says. “Breakups, rejection, and loss are painful, and they make us more empathetic to others.”
Rather than push the negative feelings away, talk about them head-on with a friend, therapist, family member, or mentor. “Writing your feelings out, even for 10 to 15 minutes at a time several days in a row, can make a world of difference,” Harding says. “You can even tear up the piece of paper afterwards if you like.”
“For example, volunteering is a great way to help recover from a breakup,” she suggests. “You can also organize volunteering with a friend who is going through a breakup if they are willing.”
While it’s normal and necessary for it to take time before you feel like yourself again, not improving as time passes can be worrisome. “If days turn into weeks that you’re having trouble functioning at work or in school, please go talk to someone,” Harding says.
Seek out a counselor or therapist to talk things through. Harding also suggests calling a free and confidential warmline, which is a listening phone service staffed by people who are recovering from mental health issues, if you don’t have anyone in your life you can share openly with. “Just remember you are not alone, and talking to someone can help,” Harding says.
Breakups are tough, and recovering from them can be even tougher. Trying to get over a breakup can trigger a wide range of emotions and some really challenging questions about the future. Maintaining your basic self-care habits, writing your thoughts, and leaning on your support system can significantly ease your healing journey.
If time goes on and you still can’t get back to feeling like your normal self, seek professional help with a counselor or therapist. They will be able to support you in your journey toward finding yourself again. Remember that it’s perfectly okay to feel sad — give yourself the time and space to grieve and heal.
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