1. Realize you’re grieving. Losing the “love of your life” is an emotional loss. The death of a relationship requires you to morn.

  2. Understand that breakups happen. Many people long for a warm, supportive relationship. Sometimes relationships end. And that’s hard.

  3. Accept your feelings. Feelings are personal. No one can tell you how you should feel. No one else can describe what that’s like - and sometimes you may have trouble doing it yourself.

  4. Make good choices. You can live in denial. You can become a victim. Or you can pick up and continue your life. Easier said than done, of course. Healing and moving forward can take a while. Having support from friends, family and a counselor can help.

  5. Find “you” again. If you’re invested time in a close relationship, you may have lost contact with yourself. Are there any new adventures you’d like to try? Any old interests you’d like to revisit? It’s good to keep busy. And it’s a time when you can learn a lot about yourself.

  6. Talk out loud to yourself about your feelings - whether you feel angry, sad, or helpless.

  7. Have a “funeral.” Write an obituary, outline a speech or bury a letter you write to the you’ve lost. This can help you mark the ending. You can look on that event and see your progress as the days, weeks, and months go by.

  8. Write a letter to your ex that you’ll never mail. Read it the next day, burn it the next.

  9. Take your time my friend. Only you know when you’ve reached a point where you can accept the loss and move on.

  10. Recovering in a positive way after a breakup is a challenging goal. If find you’re stuck, consider seeing a professional therapist. They can help guide and support you as you grieve your loss and move toward happier times.