Breakups are the worst and you may feel like you’ll get over your ex, but eventually? You will! And get this – the phases of a breakup are pretty predictable, so you can know what to expect. These are the stages post-split, according to relationship experts, and some strategies to help you cope.
- Ambivalence – Should you break up or stay together? This phase is a roller coaster of good and bad days and you’re not sure what to do about your relationship.
- Euphoric Recall – This is the part right after you break up when all you can think about is how wonderful and amazing your now-ex was. It’s easy to feel guilty or regret ending things at this point, so be sure to remember all the negative parts so you remember why you broke up.
- Making sense of it all – Now’s the time for analyzing, or over-analyzing every little detail to try to understand what went wrong. Getting closure with your ex is important so you don’t get stuck in this headspace.
- Numbness – To move past this stage, you need to feel your emotions and let those feelings out, instead of trying to block them. So this is the scream, cry, journal, punch a pillow phase.
- Grief – Don’t underestimate your pain, breakups can be overwhelming since they affect all aspects of your life. Try not to let the “what ifs” take over and lean on your support network because it’s harder to handle sadness and anger alone.
- Denial – This is when you’re having a hard time acknowledging the relationship is actually over. People in denial may try to bargain to save their relationship, but it rarely works and keeps them from moving on.
- Social media changes – It may take a while before you feel like dealing with deleting social media photos or updating your relationship status and that’s okay. No need to rush, when you’re ready to box up mementos from the relationship in real life and online, you’ll know.
- Relapse – At this point, you may try to get back together and sometimes that works. Other times, it’s just breakup sex.
- The comparison dating phase – This is when you’re ready to look for love again with someone new, but still can’t quite let go of your former flame. If you do date others, you compare them to your ex, which is completely normal.
- Forward motion – Hurray! You’ve moved on and you’re ready to get on with your life. You may still have tough moments post-breakup, but they’re nothing you can’t handle. Finally!
Source: Women’s Health