Coping with heartbreak: How to move on
Heartbreak is something that most people experience in their lives, and it can feel like you’ll never get over it. However, there are numerous ways in which you can cope with heartbreak and move on when you’re ready.
Here, we share common symptoms of heartbreak and some tips for getting over it and moving on in a healthy, positive way.
What does heartbreak feel like?
People experience heartbreak in different ways, and the feelings that come with it are unique to everyone. No matter how long you’ve been in a relationship with someone, heartbreak can cause a lot of negative emotions, thoughts, and even physical symptoms.
You may experience the following emotional, physical, and behavioural symptoms during an episode of heartbreak:
Emotional symptoms
Numerous emotions can be triggered by heartbreak. It’s likely that you’ll feel more than one of these, either at the same time or in succession. These emotions are perfectly normal, and embracing and dealing with them will help you cope and move on.
- Sadness
- Grief and loss
- Confusion about what to do
- Anger
- Denial about what has happened
- Frustration around a loss of control
- Stress and anxiety about the future
Physical symptoms
Physical symptoms of heartbreak can be brought on by one of the above emotions, such as sadness, often resulting in fatigue or loss of appetite being triggered by feelings of stress and anxiety. Other physical symptoms you may experience following heartbreak include:
- Tight chest or a feeling of pressure in the chest
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty sleeping
- Headaches
- Muscle weakness
- Restlessness
- Reduced energy
- Stomach pain and digestive issues
If these symptoms persist and start to impact your work or ability to perform day-to-day tasks, you should consider contacting your GP for advice.
Behavioural symptoms
Following heartbreak, you may find that your behaviour changes and you don’t feel like yourself. This is because people can sometimes feel a loss of identity, especially after the breakdown of a very long-term relationship when their partner was a huge part of their life. Behavioural symptoms you may experience during heartbreak include:
- Fits of rage or anger
- Neglecting personal hygiene
- Social isolation
- No longer doing things you enjoy
- Staying in bed for long periods of time
Experiencing these emotional, physical, and behavioural symptoms of heartbreak isn’t easy, but you should have the confidence that you can overcome these and move on. There’s no magic formula that defines how long it takes to get over heartbreak, and it’s definitely something that depends on the individual and the relationship itself. However, there are some things you can do that will help you to cope with heartbreak and move on.
Tips for getting over heartbreak
Grief and acceptance
One of the first steps to getting over heartbreak is to grieve and be kind to yourself about it. Regardless of how long you were in the relationship, it’s natural to experience feelings of loss, and you need to allow yourself time to grieve, accept what has happened, and move on in your own time. Getting annoyed or frustrated with yourself about needing to grieve won’t help and could repress feelings that will continue to resurface in the future.
Share how you’re feeling
Chances are that you have friends and family members who have overcome heartbreak in the past and will understand what you’re going through. Speak to people you feel comfortable with about your emotions and any physical or behavioural symptoms you’re experiencing. Sharing these thoughts and feelings can help relieve some of the pressure you’re under, and your loved ones might have some great advice to offer. If you don’t have anyone you’d like to talk to or are still struggling despite talking to friends and family, you could consider finding a counsellor you trust.
Put pen to paper
In the same way that sharing how you’re feeling with friends, family, or a counsellor can help to make heartbreak feel less overwhelming, writing things down can help to clear your mind and help you focus on overcoming heartbreak symptoms too. Get into the habit of scribbling down your thoughts and feelings at a regular time each day, or turn to pen and paper whenever you feel there’s something you need to get off your mind. You can even read over these diary entries to highlight how far you’ve come.
Avoid social media
You might want to scroll through social media to distract your brain while dealing with heartbreak, but this can cause more issues than it solves, especially if you have your ex-partner, their family, or friends on there. Try to take a break from socials during your heartbreak episode and take walks, read books, watch feel-good TV, or hang out with friends to boost your mood.
Stop or reduce contact with your ex
Stopping contact with your ex can be one of the best ways to cope well and move on, as you can focus on yourself without them being there to remind you of what you’ve lost. They might think they’re helpful by checking in with you and seeing how you’re doing, but kindly let them know this has an adverse effect is the best option. Of course, if you share children or a home with your ex, cutting off communication isn’t an option. However, you can ensure you keep conversations to a minimum and only discuss relevant matters when necessary.
Focus on the future
Once you’re ready to do so, focusing on the future is the best way to move on from heartbreak. Reassure yourself that the good qualities you found in your ex will be present in someone else and that you can be happy in a relationship again when it’s the right time for you. At Select Personal Introductions, we’re here to help you find meaningful connections and provide any advice you need about getting back into dating following heartbreak.
Ready to meet someone truly special? Contact Select Personal Introductions today to learn more, or sign up for our exclusive matchmaking services. Take the first step toward a lasting, meaningful relationship with the guidance of our expert team—your perfect match could be just a click away!