Coping with… A Broken Heart
A broken heart is painful. A broken heart feels like things will never get better. A broken heart convinces us that happiness can never be attained ever again. How can anybody cope with a broken heart? There isn’t one right answer. Too bad it’s not as simple as waving a magic wand. What work for one person might not work for another but there are strategies that at least deserve a try.
A broken heart can consume every waking minute. It’s important to spend some time each day focusing on what you do have, not what is missing. A simple exercise is to list ten things each day you feel gratitude for. Spend a moment or two really thinking about each item. Focus on the joy, happiness and comfort you feel when you think about what you are truly grateful for.
It’s unhealthy to suppress feelings and sweep emotional distress under the rug. While it’s important to examine feelings it’s equally important to remember we do have the power to control our feelings. Redirecting thoughts can be very healing. Some people use the mental image of a stop sign. Whenever thoughts of sadness and negativity come to mind try picturing a big red stop sign. The stop sign is a signal to take a breath, regroup and turn your attention to something positive. At first this can feel downright impossible. It takes dedication, discipline and desire to heal a broken heart.
Consider writing a letter to the person who broke your heart. It doesn’t have to be perfect and it’s really more for individual healing. In fact, once you write the letter discard it. Purging feelings can be therapeutic. A journal or any creative outlet can be a terrific form of self expression.
It’s easy to neglect other ares of life when a broken heart feels like the only part of life. Sticking to a routine is important. The value of self care should not be underestimated. Getting good rest, eating whole and fresh foods, engaging in exercise and with nature is nurturing. Putting forth the effort to keep in touch with friends and family, meeting new people, trying new things and being social are paramount to coping and recovery.
Lastly, give yourself time to grieve. Seek out support and be honest about the kind of support and encouragement you need. It’s helpful to have a strategy and different things work for different people.
And remember, a broken heart is honest, real and beautiful, it’s one of the many things that makes us human. And without rain, there can be no rainbow!
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