Breakups affect everyone differently. Not everyone bounces back with finesse and a newly optimistic outlook on life. Sometimes it's the complete opposite. Sometimes we shut down and close off. Sometimes we have ill-natured thoughts of our ex and of ourselves, or feel hopeless and unworthy of love (and life).
It can be a very dark place, but having faith in our ability to pull ourselves out of depression is a powerful antidote. Is does get better, but it starts with finding love for yourself and being proactive in taking the steps you need to mend. Today we've rounded up some of our favorite stories from people who've fallen to the breaking point and made it back.
Going To Meetups
"There were nights I woke up screaming and days where I wished that the plane would crash, that I would die in my sleep, that I would get in a terrible car accident...Depression really is like living under a rock. Everything is dark. There is no light at the end of the tunnel, and it really is a crippling sensation. Sleep is perhaps the only relief, but even that’s temporary.”
Clarissa shares how she became tired of being depressed and how she used Meet Up to pull herself out of it. (xojane.com)
Having Affirmations
“When I’m feeling anxious, insecure, and upset, I’m experiencing a drop in my brain’s dopamine and serotonin levels. These drops undermine my feelings of optimism and confidence, and drive me to seek out the false reward of reassurance and closeness with my ex-lover.”
One of 22 affirmations to help you get out of your breakup slump. (psychologytoday.com)
Creating A 30-Day Bucket List
“The first three months of the breakup were particularly difficult. I was crying every day. It was hard to make it through the week. To make matters worse, I found out that my ex started seeing someone from work a few weeks after our breakup. This was particularly painful and made me question our entire relationship and breakup. I'm a shy person and I realized I could spend the next several months or even years coming home from work, doing nothing, and getting into a funk. A friend told me of a 30-day list -- do one new thing every day for 30 days.”
Alison shares how making a bucket list after her 9-year relationship ended helped her find a way out of depression (huffingtonpost.com)
Last of all: bucket lists, affirmations, and meetups are excellent tools, but sometimes we just need to talk it out. If you're feeling overwhelmed by your feelings or hopeless, make sure you ask for help or talk to someone one-on-one. You don't need to go through this alone. You can also download the Mend app for virtual support and community.
