About Broken Hearts

Though romantic love is a glorious and rapturous thing, the aftermath of an ended relationship can be devastating. When you face the reality of a broken relationship the accompanying emotional burden can become great. A broken heart is no small thing. It requires a grieving period and a time to heal before you can rebound. The pain of breaking up with someone you loved can be monumental.

The Facts

The unfortunate reality is relationships can often end. The US Census statistics for the last 10 years routinely has shown that 50 percent of first marriages end in divorce and proclaimed remarriages have even grimmer odds of being successful. Being that most people will become romantically involved with more than one partner during their lifetime means the average individual will fall victim to breakup, perhaps many times, during his dating life. Most often the result of an ended relationship is a "broken heart" that can wreak emotional, and sometimes physical, havoc on sufferers.

Effects

A broken heart is crushing to its owner. Many people who claim to have a broken heart report experiencing depression, stress, anxiety and disillusionment. It is common for those who have lost their romantic love to become introverted and socially isolate themselves for a time. Many have physical as well as psychological problems stemming from the breakup. Stomach aches, labored breathing and/or headaches commonly aflict those nursing a broken heart. Professional attention should be sought in extreme cases of acute depression which can lead to suicidal thoughts.

Misconceptions

Even if a failed relationship is only of short duration the effects can be tremendous. Though it is natural to think only the ending of long standing relationships results in dramatic upheaval to the participants' lives, even instances in which lovers have only been together several weeks before breaking up can cause serious emotional pain. Another common false impression is that "puppy love" and "crushes" among the young are immune to resulting in severe emotional pain upon ending. In many cases, the inexperienced youth encountering failed love for the first time faces a greater impact from a breakup than someone who has been through it before and is better able to deal with the aftermath.

Time Frame

There is no real guarantee as to how long a broken heart is going to last. It is known, however, that the grieving experienced by someone who suffered an ended relationship proceeds through the same periods as one who has lost a loved one to death. The five stages of grief are denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Until you have proceeded through all five, a broken heart will remain broken.

Significance

It is important to nurture oneself when dealing with a broken heart. Take some time off just for you for some pampering and self preservation. A broken heart is a significant event in your life and should be treated as such. Gather your close family and friends around you as a support system. Lean on them and let them care for you to help you during this difficult time. Also, don't let yourself be rushed to get back in the dating pool. Your heart needs time and care to heal before you will be ready to embark on a new relationship.