This article was co-authored by Moshe Ratson, MFT, PCC and by wikiHow staff writer, Megaera Lorenz, PhD. Moshe Ratson is the Executive Director of spiral2grow Marriage & Family Therapy, a coaching and therapy clinic in New York City. Moshe is an International Coach Federation accredited Professional Certified Coach (PCC). He received his MS in Marriage and Family Therapy from Iona College. Moshe is a clinical member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), and a member of the International Coach Federation (ICF).
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Almost everyone experiences heartbreak at some point in their lives. But the fact that it’s a normal part of life doesn’t make it hurt any less. In fact, studies show that your brain processes heartbreak the same way it does physical pain. When you’re struggling with a broken heart, you might feel like nothing will ever get better—but the good news is that it will become easier with time. We’ll walk you through a few ways to take care of yourself and feel better while your heart is healing.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhat can I do if I feel like I just can't get over it?Moshe Ratson, MFT, PCCMoshe Ratson is the Executive Director of spiral2grow Marriage & Family Therapy, a coaching and therapy clinic in New York City. Moshe is an International Coach Federation accredited Professional Certified Coach (PCC). He received his MS in Marriage and Family Therapy from Iona College. Moshe is a clinical member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), and a member of the International Coach Federation (ICF).
Relationship TherapistIt's okay to be sad. If it's taking you some time to process what you're going through, that's totally fine. Just try to take care of yourself physically, make an effort to see friends even if you don't want to, and do things you enjoy. -
QuestionWhat can I do if I feel like I was the reason we broke up?Moshe Ratson, MFT, PCCMoshe Ratson is the Executive Director of spiral2grow Marriage & Family Therapy, a coaching and therapy clinic in New York City. Moshe is an International Coach Federation accredited Professional Certified Coach (PCC). He received his MS in Marriage and Family Therapy from Iona College. Moshe is a clinical member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), and a member of the International Coach Federation (ICF).
Relationship TherapistIf you feel guilty about something, try giving back to your community. The more positive value you can inject into the world, the better you're going to feel. -
QuestionHow long does it take to heal from a broken heart?Amy ChanAmy Chan is a Relationship Coach based in New York, New York. She is the Founder of Renew Breakup Bootcamp, a retreat that takes a scientific and spiritual approach to healing after the end of a relationship. She has over 12 years of experience helping clients work on their relationships with strategies rooted in the psychology and science of relationships and personal development. Her team of psychologists and coaches at Renew Breakup Bootcamp has helped hundreds of individuals, and the Bootcamp has been featured on CNN, Vogue, the New York Times, and Fortune. Her book based on her work, Breakup Bootcamp, was published in 2020 and was featured by the New York Times.
Relationship CoachResearch shows that the feelings of pain of a romantic rejection usually fade away over the course of about six months to two years. People who have an anxious attachment style often take breakups harder than those with a secure or avoidant attachment style, however.
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References
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/nurturing-self-compassion/201905/5-essential-steps-to-recovery-from-heartbreak
- ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/996edc30-d6e9-480b-b4a8-15b626f0aa76
- ↑ https://psychcentral.com/blog/10-tips-to-mend-a-broken-heart
- ↑ Moshe Ratson, MFT, PCC. Relationship Therapist. Expert Interview. 7 August 2019.
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/positive-thinking/art-20043950?pg=2
- ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/996edc30-d6e9-480b-b4a8-15b626f0aa76
- ↑ Moshe Ratson, MFT, PCC. Relationship Therapist. Expert Interview. 7 August 2019.
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/positive-thinking/art-20043950?pg=2
- ↑ https://www.crisistextline.org/
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/grieving-after-a-break-up-6-strategies-to-help-you-heal/
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/me-you-us/201408/3-ways-to-take-care-of-yourself-after-a-breakup
- ↑ http://www.adaa.org/living-with-anxiety/managing-anxiety/exercise-stress-and-anxiety
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/nurturing-self-compassion/201905/5-essential-steps-to-recovery-from-heartbreak
- ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/996edc30-d6e9-480b-b4a8-15b626f0aa76
- ↑ Moshe Ratson, MFT, PCC. Relationship Therapist. Expert Interview. 7 August 2019.
- ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/grief/dealing-with-a-breakup-or-divorce.htm
- ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/996edc30-d6e9-480b-b4a8-15b626f0aa76
- ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/grief/dealing-with-a-breakup-or-divorce.htm
- ↑ https://health.usnews.com/health-care/patient-advice/articles/tips-to-heal-a-broken-heart
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