How to get through a breakup

Teach: How to get through a breakup

What to say

To get through a breakup, let yourself feel it rather than numbing it with drinking, take a break from contact and from checking their social media, and keep the basics going: sleep, meals, exercise and work. Lean on friends and say yes to plans. Hold off on big decisions for a few weeks. If you feel hopeless or cannot function, talk to a doctor or call or text 988.

What to show, in order

1. Tell a couple of close friends or family what happened, so you are not alone with it.
2. Take a break from contact, and mute or unfollow them for now.
3. Put away the reminders you see every day, without making big gestures.
4. Keep a daily routine: regular sleep, real meals, time outside and some exercise.
5. Watch your drinking; it makes low moods lower.
6. Say yes to plans with friends, even when you would rather stay home.
7. Hold off on big decisions, such as moving or quitting a job, for a few weeks.
8. Later, write down what you learned about what you want and need.

When to stop and call a professional

• You feel hopeless, cannot sleep, eat or work, or have thoughts of harming yourself: call or text 988 now, or see a doctor.
• Weeks turn into months and you still cannot function: see a doctor or a licensed therapist.
• The relationship involved threats, control or violence: the national domestic violence hotline, 1-800-799-7233, can help you plan your safety.

The check question

Ask: Which habit helps most in the first weeks? Answer: Keeping sleep, meals and exercise going

From EveryManKnows. General information, not professional advice.