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Step 1
Do what feels right for the first few days after the breakup. If you need to stay in bed and cry for hours at a time, get that out of your system. If it feels better to spend every night out with friends, do just that. Everybody deals with pain in different ways and this is the time to listen to yourself and what you need.
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Step 2
Take care of yourself. Don’t use drinking or smoking as a way to mask your pain. Eat healthy, satisfying meals and try to sleep at least seven or eight hours a day, even if it means taking an OTC sleeping aid to help you.
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Step 3
Don’t isolate yourself, even if it’s all you want to do. After the first few days, force yourself to go out and spend time with people who love you. It’s easy to feel lonely and abandoned after a break up so it’s especially important that you do things to remind yourself you’re not really alone.
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Step 4
Don’t rush into the dating world again. While you may feel that the best way to forget somebody is to find a replacement, the truth is that it’s easy to make mistakes when you’re still hurting. Give yourself time to mourn the relationship that’s ending before you look for somebody else to share your life with.
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Step 5
Get closure. If you have questions that haven’t been answered, send your ex an email or write a letter. Do this even if you don’t expect an answer back. Sometimes it’s more important that you say what needs to be said so it doesn’t stop you from moving on.
