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5 Proven Ways To Get

Over The Breakup

by Margaret Carmichael Les

It’s normal to be depressed after the end of a relationship. What’s not normal is giving up on having a social life at all, not getting out of bed in the morning, or living the life of a recluse. While it’s important to honor the grief process, it’s crucial that you keep the blues in check.

 “Depression is a natural part of the grief cycle that people experience as a result of the loss of an important relationship,” explains Jennifer Coleman, a life transition coach.  “People reflect on what they are missing, experience feelings of sadness and loneliness, perhaps even self-doubt, and question whether they were ever truly loved or whether they will be loved in the future.”

For most people, depression lifts naturally. But for others, it’s tougher to beat the blues. It’s much harder to overcome post-breakup depression when you:

  • Can’t focus on the future and instead become stuck in reliving the past and acting out a conversation with yourself about what went wrong.
  • Don’t define yourself in new ways and instead see yourself as only part of a person (defining yourself by the old relationship).

So here’s some wise advice on how to snap out of that mindset and move forward.

  1. Make time. Allow yourself some time each day to do the work of “getting over it.”  This might include private time to find expression for your worst thoughts, time to vent with friends about your sadness and frustration, time to go for a walk and notice all the little things around you that you don’t always notice or time to invest in an activity you truly enjoy.
  2. Don’t withdraw, engage. The easiest way to accomplish this is by scheduling at least three pleasant or reinforcing activities each day, “Examples might include engaging in a hobby, having lunch with a close friend, or even indulging in an ice cream sundae. By making a proactive attempt at increasing the enjoyment in their daily lives, you will slowly re-engage with the world and your depressive symptoms will decrease.
  3. Accentuate the positive. Start looking for good things that you got from your relationship. “I wrote down a bunch of positive results from my breakup on scraps of paper,” recalls Tammy.  “Everything from having a second chance at love or learning how to scuba dive (something my ex loved to do) to funny things like not having to share my bathroom again or being able to get a dog (my ex was allergic). I put the scraps in a box and whenever I felt bad, I pulled one or two out. It was simple, but it helped me put things in perspective.”
  4. Create a nurturing environment. “My friends made sure I was taking care of myself,” says Sonja. “We took a healthy cooking class together, went on weekly fitness walks, and even had a couple of spa getaways. We also repainted my apartment and went to yard sales for cheap new furniture.”
  5. Consider additional support. Friends and family are crucial during this time, but you might want to get additional support to help you deal with complicated or extremely painful feelings. A mental health professional can help point out distorted or negative thoughts exacerbating your depression.  It’s the equivalent of having your own personal cheerleading team and coach wrapped up in one highly educated person. Ask your doctor for a referral to a qualified professional. You might also consider seeking counsel from your pastoral leader.

 

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