Dealing with a breakup is never easy, especially if it’s a nasty one. While we cannot control our feeling, we can control our reactions and. To help you on your way, I’ve rounded up some simple, expert-approved strategies for coping with breakup stress:
How To Dealing with a Bad Breakup
1. Write Or Talk It Out
Although suppressing unpleasant feelings is a natural impulse, avoiding your emotions will ultimately prevent you from moving past them. There are so many emotions involved in a breakup — anger, sadness, loneliness, feelings of rejection and uncertainty about the future — and it’s essential to confront them head-on. Particularly in the early stages of a breakup, try let yourself feel what you feel, without judgment. Writing out your thoughts in a journal, having a good cry, or talking to a therapist can help you process and gain the clarity you need to see why the relationship didn’t work — and why you’ll be better off without your former partner.
2: Take Care Of Your Body
Going on a “breakup diet” may sound like a good idea — we often think of looking our best as a way to get revenge on an ex — but it can easily become a way to punish yourself, reinforcing feelings of rejection. (Not to mention encouraging you to develop an unhealthy relationship with food.) Instead of restricting calories, eat nourishing whole foods that are high in fiber, protein, and nutrients to boost your mood and energy. A balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruits, greens, and stress-busting superfoods can help counteract the physiological stress of the breakup.
3. Controlled Mourning
Instead of trying to be tough and burying your feelings, allow yourself to feel it all. Call sick into work or work out of your home. If you’re in school, see if you can get notes off of other people and miss a day or two. Cry a lot and come to grips with the fact that what you had is gone. Let yourself feel the flood of emotions entirely and allow yourself to go through the five stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression and finally, acceptance) without the risk of going off like a loose cannon in public. Turn your house into a personal love detox center filled with the cheesy breakup songs followed by empowering songs with choreographed dances. Then after the allotted mourning time is over, pick yourself up and re-enter the real world.
4. Focus on Your Best Qualities
Try writing down the five best things you have to offer the world. Remind yourself that you have value and internalize your self-worth. You have to learn how to stand on your own two feet again.
5. Be Patient
You’re very lucky if you don’t run into your ex at some point during the recovery period. This can be more difficult for some than others but when in doubt a short, “Hey, how are you?” followed by a little bit of small talk does the trick. Try to avoid talking about your relationship, as it’s uncomfortable and never does a whole lot of good for either party.
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