Healthy Ways to Move On After a Breakup: Tips and Advice

Surviving a heartbreak? We’ve got you covered. Experiencing heartbreak can be painful and heart-wrenching, whether it involves leaving a relationship or facing the loss of someone significant, such as a boyfriend, girlfriend, wife, or husband.

‍

People are often not equipped to deal with breakups because we are not taught how to navigate these complicated emotions and develop healthy coping mechanisms for healing. While having a handbook of tips can be helpful, it will not prevent you from experiencing difficult emotions. Instead, it will assist you in moving through the grieving process steadily, ultimately leading to more satisfying relationships in the future.

‍

‍

Tips for Surviving Your Stay at the Heartbreak Hotel

Before diving into what can help you through this tough time, let’s explore some factors that may intensify negative emotions:

• Not being the one who decided to break up
• This being your first relationship
• Leaving an abusive relationship
• Maintaining constant contact post-breakup
• Your ex beginning to date someone right away
• Perceiving your relationship as your whole world, making it difficult to separate your self-identity from it

‍

Don’t Fight Your Feelings

A breakup is often accompanied by a variety of negative emotions, such as anger, sadness, continuous crying spells, jealousy, fear, and regret. Coping with these emotions in a healthy way means not suppressing them; instead, identify them and allow them to coexist with other feelings. Heartbreak can often feel like grief—a grief that seems endless—but it doesn’t have to be if we navigate it with calm.

‍

‍

Talk It Out

Talking can work wonders in helping you process and release the heaviness and pain you’re experiencing. As you communicate with loved ones, you may discover that your feelings are normal and that others have survived similar experiences. Isolation can worsen pain, so surround yourself with those who can provide support.

‍

Indulge in Some Self-Care

Self-care involves meeting your basic needs, even when you may feel otherwise due to the breakup. Give yourself ample time to sleep, rest, and recuperate. Consider indulging in exercise, going out with friends, or having a comfort-food party accompanied by a feel-good movie.

‍

Build a Routine

Breakups can feel chaotic, as if you are experiencing life out of the ordinary. Building a routine or rediscovering a pre-existing one can provide a sense of normalcy and stability. A routine after the initial shock can calm you and restore a sense of control.

‍

Give Yourself Some Slack

Understand that you will not be functioning at full capacity for a while due to the distress you are experiencing. It is reasonable to lighten your load temporarily, whether that means taking a break from studying or functioning at less than your usual capacity. Give what you can on any given day; that will be your best for that day.

‍

Avoid Unhealthy Coping Strategies

There are several unhealthy ways to cope with a breakup that can exacerbate your problems. These include excessive drinking, drug use, overeating, self-harm, compulsive gambling, or becoming a workaholic. While you may be tempted to engage in activities that distract from loneliness and pain, it is essential to find healthier coping mechanisms.

‍

‍

Steer Away from Seeking Revenge

The idea of retaliating against your ex for the pain they caused can be tempting. However, this choice can lead to unforeseen and unfavorable consequences. During moments of heightened passion and anger, take time to pause and reflect, especially when the urge for revenge arises.

‍

Examine What You Can Learn from the Relationship

Every relationship has the potential to teach you valuable lessons—whether good or bad. Reflect on what those lessons might be and how to apply them in the future. Learning promotes growth, while self-blame (e.g., feeling like a failure) only prolongs your suffering.

‍

Don’t Personalize the Loss

It is more helpful to view the ending of a relationship as a result of conflicting needs and incompatibilities rather than as anyone’s fault. Each person in a relationship is trying to fulfill their own needs, and some couples are able to meet each other’s needs while others are not. It’s not easy to learn, so avoid blaming yourself or your ex. They are likely doing their best, given their personalities and life experiences. No one enters a relationship intending for it to fail or to hurt the other person.

‍

Seek Therapy

It’s okay to not feel okay and to feel like a different version of yourself due to the pain. Everything you feel is valid. Access to therapy can be a helpful tool for navigating heartbreak in a healthy manner. Consider reaching out to a mental health professional to better understand your emotions and thoughts. Check out Rocket Health India's team of psychologists to provide you a safe and judgement free space to talk it out or navigate your pain safely. 

‍

‍

Conclusion

As hurtful as it may be, breakups are an integral part of dating. The longevity, health, and success of a relationship depend on the willingness, effort, and daily choices made by both individuals involved. However, heartbreak and pain are not everlasting; they will fade. Allow yourself ample time, patience, and love to heal.

‍

Navigate your heartbreak with professional support. Book an online therapy session today with Rocket Health India and start your healing journey.