Let's talk a little about love today... Or, rather, the loss of love...
So often I find myself in conversations and/or counseling someone who is struggling with the emotional distress following the dissolution of an intimate relationship. It is understood that a person can feel deep loss, when a friendship is severed, but this particular blog entry will be focused specifically on the ending of a more intimate relationship such as marriage or a boyfriend/girlfriend-type relationship/situation.... You know, the type that feels like the literal severance of the heart from the body... That loss...
A broken heart can sometimes feel like you're dying on the inside, an endless feeling of emptiness and a pit in the bottom of your soul (yeah, I might be familiar). Truth is, you really could actually be suffering from takotsubo cariomyopathy, also known as the broken heart syndrome. Yes, I'm totally serious. A characteristic of this condition is chest pain and shortness of breath, following severe stress (either emotional or physical). This heart condition can feel similar to a heart attack, is almost exclusive to women, and is generally temporary. I have linked some more detailed information about the condition in the text, so don't forget to take a moment to check them out.
Healing is similar to that of someone who is dealing with grief and the death of a loved one. In essence, it very parallel to the death of something inside. However, just as a broken heart can medically be treated, it can also be soothed emotionally.
You may find yourself going through the classic stages of grief:
- Denial
- Anger
- Bargaining
- Depression, and finally
- Acceptance
Some tips for coping with your whirlpool/tornado of emotions include:
- Seeking out caring people (avoid the cynical, bitter & negative, especially the friend that just wants to go beat someone up for breaking your heart)
- Be mindful of your physical health (declining health will contribute to chemical releases within the body that contribute to depressive symptoms) #revengebody #butdoitforyourself
- Remember that life is for living, and no person should have the power to take that from you
- Seek outside help, if necessary (there's no shame in seeing a counselor/therapist, to assist you with dealing with your hurt)...
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