Breaking up with someone can be a difficult and painful experience, leaving you feeling hurt, confused, and alone. But as time passes, you can heal and move on from your breakup. Here are some helpful tips on how to get over a breakup and start feeling like yourself again.

Give yourself time to grieve
Allow yourself to feel your emotions and grieve the end of the relationship. It's normal to feel sad, angry, or even numb after a breakup. Don't try to suppress your feelings or rush the healing process. Take as much time as you need to heal and move forward.

Focus on self-care
Now is the time to focus on yourself and your well-being. Take care of your body by getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercising regularly. Try new hobbies or activities that interest you and bring you joy. Surround yourself with positive and supportive friends and family. ​Here are some additional ways you can prioritize self-care during a breakup:

a) Take care of your body: Make sure you're getting enough sleep, eating nutritious meals, and staying hydrated. Avoid overindulging in alcohol or other substances as a way to cope with your emotions.

b) Exercise: Exercise is a great way to release stress and improve your mood. Consider incorporating regular exercise into your routine, whether it's going for a walk, running, cycling, or taking a fitness class.

c) Indulge in self-care activities: Pamper yourself with activities that make you feel good, such as taking a warm bath, getting a massage, or treating yourself to a manicure or pedicure. Doing things that make you feel relaxed and happy can help reduce stress and anxiety.

d) Pursue your interests: Rediscover your passions and interests, or try new hobbies. Engaging in activities you enjoy can help distract you from the breakup and bring a sense of fulfillment and joy. What did you enjoy before & during your relationship that wasn't romantic?

e) Surround yourself with positive people: Spend time with friends and family who uplift and support you. Avoid people who are negative or who bring up memories of your ex. Consider joining a support group or reaching out to a therapist if you need additional support.

Self-care is about prioritizing your own well-being, both physically and emotionally. By taking care of yourself, you can start to heal and move forward from your breakup. Remember to be patient with yourself, and don't expect to feel better overnight. It's a process, but by taking small steps to care for yourself, you'll be on the path to recovery.

IAvoid contact with your ex (NO CONTACT!)
It's important to create some distance between yourself and your ex. This can help you to move on and start to heal. Avoid checking their social media accounts or texting or calling them. If you need to communicate with them, keep it brief and cordial

Take some time to reflect on the relationship and what you learned from it.
Consider what went well and what didn't, and what you can do differently in future relationships. This can help you to gain closure and move on from the relationship. Don't be afraid to seek support from others. Talk to trusted friends or family members about how you're feeling. Consider talking to a therapist or counselor if you're struggling to cope with your emotions.

Setting goals can help you to focus on the future and move forward.
Consider what you want to achieve in your personal and professional life, and set realistic goals to help you get there. This can give you a sense of purpose and direction.

Be kind to yourself.
Remember to be kind to yourself throughout the healing process. Don't beat yourself up for feeling sad or taking longer than you expected to heal. Healing takes time, and everyone's journey is different.

In conclusion, healing from a breakup takes time and effort, but it is possible. By focusing on self-care, avoiding contact with your ex, seeking support, and setting goals for the future, you can start to move on and heal. Remember to be patient and kind to yourself throughout the process, and trust that you will find happiness and love again in the future.

I'm proud of you. You aren't alone.
Check out these videos if you need more support.
-Rory

BLOG POST #5:
Based on LC Episode 241 (The Stages of a Breakup)
LC Episode 95 (Emotional Rollercoster)
 
In 1969, Elisabeth Kübler Ross identified the five stages of grief in her award-winning book, On Death and Dying. This revelation of the grieving process truly set the stage for the discussion of grief as a profoundly personal but necessary response to loss. Although death is not chosen while breakups are (for at least the dumper), breakups are inevitably traumatic. They result in loss, and with that loss can come a vast array of emotions and responses. As a result, let’s review the seven stages of a breakup.
 
Stage 1 = SHOCK
 
This is the stage of utter disbelief. What just happened? Where did this come from? You were on cloud nine not too long ago, and now you’re in fight or flight mode. Cortisol is pumping through your system as doubt and distress overcome you.

Stage 2 = DENIAL
 
It’s in this stage that you’re thinking it all can’t be true…this just can’t be happening! You can’t or won’t accept that things are over. Instead you tell yourself that everything is fine. Your ex will call you in a few days and then you’ll be back together. Avoiding the inevitable and believing the unlikely define this stage.
 
Stage 3 = BARGAINING
 
Bargaining is seeking in vain for a way out. The pain becomes so intolerable that you’ll do anything to bring them back, even if that means sacrificing a part of yourself as “payment”. During this stage, some of us may even temporarily get back together or try again with our ex in an effort to relieve the agony of withdrawal…and it almost never ends well.
 
Stage 4 = ANGER
 
This stage tends to be the result of emotions repressed in prior stages boiling over. The good news in that your anger can ultimately empower you! The bad news is that most of us tend to use our anger destructively rather than constructively. It can be hard to control what to do with anger of such emotional severity, but eventually this stage signals a major shift in the grieving process. You now have enough internal discomfort to rethink and redirect your perspective on how the relationship and breakup have actually been.
 
Stage 5 = DEPRESSION
 
Depression is realization of the inevitable. It has happened, you’re broken up. Although it often does, depression doesn’t have to mean sadness. It can translate to feeling pushed down, depressed, blunted. You may even feel less range of emotions. Something positive about this stage is that it can ultimately provide direction and create a feeling of awareness in a world that has become anaesthetized by loss.
 
STAGE 6 = THE UPTURN
 
This is the beginning of hope. You start to realize that there is a way forward. Maybe life won’t be horrible if you don’t get them back. You acknowledge that you can’t change how they feel, so you begin taking steps forward and focusing on yourself. You start living again. You finally believe that things will be okay.
 
STAGE 7 = ACCEPTANCE
 
If the stage of acceptance happens early in the grieving process, it can feel somewhat like you’re surrendering. When you’ve developed enough awareness and control to recognize the breadth of your emotions and experiences, however, acceptance instead is realization that the relationship is just not meant to be. As this acceptance deepens, your feelings of hope are also redirected away from saving a failed relationship to acknowledging that you ARE and WILL BE okay without your ex. The breakup is no longer able to destroy you.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk4a9xrT5PI&t=518s
 
Remember, you may not go through all the stages of a breakup. You may certainly not encounter them in the order presented. The most important thing you can do to pass through the stages is experience them. Feel how you feel. Go through the motions while experiencing the emotions. Just don’t deny them – that will only make the process longer.