HEALING AFTER THE BREAKUP OF A LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP

After experiencing the companionship and stability of  being in a romantic relationship for a many years, it is very hard to let go of some of the good memories you shared with your ex. The thought of being lonely makes it even more devastating. Depression becomes the order of the day, when you consider the time and effort you now realized you wasted; you can’t help but live with regret. It can be emotionally stressful, but the most amazing part of it all is that you can get over it.

Moving on with your life should be your major priority, bearing in mind that your mental health is more important than a broken relationship. Healing after a breakup requires honest forgiveness and self-love. If you’re still finding it difficult to move on,  read these amazing steps to take in order to start healing and have a genuine peace of mind:

1. Grieve over your breakup: It is normal to feel hurt after a breakup, especially when you’ve been together for a long period of time. The first thing to do is to grieve over your pain, it is a natural way of reducing hard feelings. It’s okay to feel bad, but it shouldn’t last forever. Grieve for a while and begin moving on with your life. ‘Putting  yourself together again’, is the most important thing.

• Forgive yourself: Regrets and depression are part of a broken relationship. You don’t have to blame yourself for what has happened, it isn’t your fault, you need to forgive yourself, forgiveness is actually for your well-being, and less stress on a broken heart. Forgiveness is a crucial part of the healing process. It will be easier to move on when you genuinely forgive.

1. Cut all mediums of Communication: Cutting all forms of communication will help you heal faster. It will be easier for your heart to heal when you remove every possible means of communicating with your ex. Deleting his or her phone number from your phone is a start. This also applies to all social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and others. When you don’t communicate with your ex, it will help you get rid of old feelings and memories.
2. Don’t always be alone: Stick around trustworthy people, like your family members and close friends during this period; it’s not advisable to stay alone after a traumatic experience of a broken heart. You might feel depressed, so stay around positive people that will make you happy. Staying alone can cause harm to your mental health. Hang out with friends often.
3. Develop a healthy self-esteem: Mutual friends that you and your ex shared, may ask you what happened between you and your ex, these questions may build up low self-esteem. You should avoid being around them and engage in upbeat activities,  that will boost your self-confidence. You can also learn new skills, change old habits and your lifestyle to cope while healing.

1. Engage in physical exercise: Research has proven that physical exercise is a great way of getting over depression. Exercises like taking long walks, jogging and swimming can help you to renew your mind and  it reduces emotional stress. Eat a healthy diet, drink  plenty water  and avoid alcohol, this can act a depressant.
2. Always take good care of yourself: during this time of healing and change, self-love and pampering is a priority. Create time for self and take good care of You. Wear nice clothes and go on a trip if possible. For women, you can also change your hairstyle. Be assured that true love will eventually come your way.

These seven steps will aid in your recovery from a traumatic heartbreak faster. Remember, it is not healthy to grieve over the breakup of a relationship forever; you will be hurting yourself and the people around you.

by Jade