When a relationship ends, it’s never easy, but some breakups can be tougher than others. It might be that you never saw it coming, or perhaps your ex betrayed your trust? You might even have been the one to end the relationship, but your ex made things very difficult for you out of spite. Whatever the scenario, bad breakups can be very hard to navigate, and it might feel like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. However, it’s important to try and remember that this phase will pass eventually, and if you would like to try and bounce back after a bad breakup and start to feel good about yourself and romance again, try the following.
1. Allow Yourself to Grieve the Relationship
If you’re feeling hurt, angry, betrayed, frustrated, or even just sad at the loss of a close relationship, these feelings are valid. While it’s important not to let these feelings consume you, letting yourself go through these emotions is the first step to healing. Talk to your friends or family about how you are feeling and allow them to support you, or think about keeping a journal as a private space to work through your thoughts and feelings if this is more comfortable.
2. Think About Making Some Changes
Change is needed if you want to move forward with your life and step closer to that next chapter. These don’t have to be life-altering changes, of course, but even simple things like getting a new haircut, updating your wardrobe, or even redecorating your house can help you move forward. This is also a good time to reflect and ask yourself what it is you truly want out of life, and perhaps start making plans to achieve those goals.
3. Spend Time with People That Love You
When you are going through a tough time, it’s your friends and family that are there to support you. After a tough breakup, try to spend as much time as you can with your loved ones as they can either offer a sympathetic ear or provide a positive distraction for you. They will also remind you how many people do love you and that you deserve to be happy.
4. Enjoy Some Time Alone
Time alone allows you to rest and recuperate as breakups can be emotionally exhausting, which leaves you feeling physically drained, too. It’s also a good opportunity to start getting intimate with yourself again. For many people, sex can fall off the radar after a breakup, but this kind of gratification is not only a great stress-reliever but also an opportunity to explore that side of you and perhaps could help you feel more confident when you are ready to start dating other people again. Visit your local sex toy shop and treat yourself to some new toys or even some nice lingerie to help you start feeling sexy and desirable again.
5. Consider Talking to a Therapist
If the breakup has been particularly troubling for you and left you with a lot of emotional distress, then you might want to consider speaking to a therapist about this. They can help you to navigate these emotions and make sense of them, and hopefully, you can start to move forward feeling stronger in yourself and with a better understanding of what happened and why you felt that way.
Breakups are never easy, but some are worse than others and require a longer mourning/recovery period. If you have been through a tough breakup recently, consider these tips and see if they can help you move on.
