The process of healing during a heartbreak is easier said than done. While it seems simple to remove all physical evidence and move on, the reality is the emotional scarring that is left behind makes it feel impossible to recover from. There is no number which can predict how long the breakup will take to get over. The recovery process is subjective of the individual however the tenet of the painful process should be to learn from the breakup and be able to grow as a person. This is the end goal which takes longer than most people would expect. Typically, the healing starts with expressing all the emotions which are often coupled with reminiscing on the last “perfect” moments of the relationship. While reliving the memories repetitively brings some positive emotions to the forefront it can also cause more harm emotionally which hinders the healing process. The difficult part about a breakup that was out of the blue means that a majority of the time will be spent analyzing for signs that the relationship was on unstable ground. It is important to recognize that in a breakup that there will be periods of time where the negative feelings will come in waves and that it is okay to let the feelings take over. This is better than keeping the feelings inside which could lead to a problematic pathway of dealing with the breakup. The complex structuring of the brain makes it so that putting focus on the negative aspects can change the structure which can lead to a decline mental health. Even though it is easier to focus on the things that bring sadness, there is more reward on finding things that can bring happiness back into daily routine. This will lead into a path of successful self-growth. Realistically, the whiplash from a breakup does not end till you find happiness in something that reminds you of all the wonderful experiences that are there left to explore.
~Angela Jetty