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Tips for the Heartbroken
Yahoo! Personals' Breakup Survival Guide
By Yahoo! Personals Updated: Jul 2, 2008
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It's a familiar story -- the two of you meet, become inseparable and fall in love...but then the tables turn and one of you wants out. At that moment, things get complicated and questions begin to arise: How do I tell this person? What will happen after the breakup? We've compiled some tried-and-true ways to weather the emotional storm:
Tip 1: Behave badly. Don't try to be brave. Don't pretend it's OK. Scream, shout, eat badly. For once, you've got permission. Therapists say the sooner you hit bottom, the sooner you'll feel better.
Survey* says:- It's OK to be upset at work." Almost half of respondents confided in a co-worker after a breakup, and more than one-third have cried at work because of a breakup.
Tip 2: This person is now out of your life. Period. DO NOT, repeat, DO NOT, call your ex. It's like Chutes and Ladders. One call and you're back at the bottom again. We're all weak-willed, particularly when it comes to people who've broken our hearts. You need to get serious about this. You need a contract. Try this:
The "No-Contact" ContractTip 3: Life is short. Make it good for you. Is there something you've always wanted to try but haven't? Then make the time to do it now. Better yet, pick something your ex NEVER wanted to try (or never would let you try). It'll take your mind off things, reintroduce fun into your life and help you break unproductive thought patterns. Run away on a vacation. Join a gym.
Despite all that comfort eating, many people lose weight while grieving.
Despite all that comfort eating, many people lose weight while grieving. Rejoice! Try a little retail therapy.
Survey* says:Despite all that comfort eating, many people lose weight while grieving. - "Immerse yourself in your work" and "go on vacation" were the top selections for what respondents would do just after a breakup (59 percent and 45 percent, respectively).
- Chocolate and ice cream received more than 50 percent of the votes as the kind of comfort foods that would be sought out by respondents as the result of a breakup.
Tip 4: Get back in the saddle. Avoid super-quick rebounds, but don't make excuses for not getting out there and meeting new people. Not every coffee date needs to be "the one." Browsing online through Yahoo! Personals will cheer you up by showing you how many new options there are.
More on Breakups and Recovery- The Breakup Test: 5 Questions to Ask Before Giving 'Em the Boot
- Dropping Pounds Along With an Ex
- Heartbreaker 101: How to Heal and Move On After Breaking Someone's Heart
- 5 Don'ts Of Dumping: How to Improve Your Breakup Karma
- Surviving the Breakup Season: How to Mend Your Broken Heart
- How to Take Your Breakup From Boo-Hoo to Woo-Hoo
- Relationship Roadkill: 5 Ways to Get Over a Breakup, Fast!
- 5 Breakup Signs
- 10 Signs That He's Not the One for You
- 10 Ways to Heal Spiritually from a Breakup
- Spiritual Rules for How to Break Up
* Results gathered from a telephone survey of approximately 4,000 adults conducted on June 28 and July 6, 2007, for Yahoo! Personals by Opinion Research Corporation. Respondents, approximately half of which were females, were asked a dozen questions about their attitudes and experiences related to dating and relationships.
