7 Reasons Why Your Break-Up is Killing You

Time heals all wounds.

At least, that's what they tell you when you mention that you've been dumped recently (along with giving you that look).

But, does time really heal the wound brought to you by a breakup or divorce?

I think that this is a common misunderstanding.

Time would not heal anything if it didn't force you to go through a certain process.

Time is the medium; you do the healing.

Time does heal to a certain degree, but the wounds are not healed adequately, let alone completely if you don't contribute anything to the healing process yourself.

Time makes you forget, but your problems are still there. Hidden, but present.

Conscious Healing

Is a break up painful? I know it is.

Are you amplifying your pain by improper behavior? Well, let's see.

For efficient and in-depth healing you have to take a “conscious healing” approach.

That's what I am teaching in my coaching.

Someone said to me lately that she is doing nothing special to overcome her divorce. Just waiting for time to heal it.

What could she do about it anyway?

There are a lot of things you could do to start the “conscious healing.”

A conscious healing approach means that you have to make efforts, like do exercises and shift your state of mind, as opposed to doing nothing, letting the time to work for you.

Before you start with exercises because you don't feel like you need to at the beginning, why not change the few things that directly influence your wellbeing in a negative way?

Why is your Break-Up or Divorce killing you?

There is a typical behavior pattern that you see over and over again. People are so overwhelmed by their pain (particularly in the beginning of the break up), that they willingly or unwillingly, drift into certain manners.

What are these manners and how are they contributing to your pain?

Please read on.

7 Ways you are Amplifying your Pain

Listed below are the main reasons why people are suffering from a relationship break up more than they should in the first months.

This, of course, also implies that when you stop doing these certain things, you will feel much better.

You could call this “indirect healing,” because it doesn't take a direct initiative, just a change in thinking.

This is much easier, as the first phases of a breakup are characterized by a paralyzing lethargy.

(MORE: The 7 New Stages of Grief After a Breakup)

Sounds good?

So, let's start:

1. Neglecting the Body's Needs

I know you don't feel like eating (or some of you eat way too much).

I know you don't want to go jogging. But believe me, you make it worse if you neglect the simple needs of your body.

If you are not a friend of healthy cuisine, try at the least to maintain your eating habits that you've had before your break up or divorce.

Never stop working out, jogging or taking part in the sports you used to do.

If you suffer from mental pain, there is no reason to carry it over to your body.

2. Continual Mental Reasoning

I know that you rethink the past events over and over again.

It's almost like a compulsion. You think that maybe you were missing something and if you relive the breakup, then it would make sense eventually.

You have to realize one thing: It is not your obligation to suffer!

This vicious cycle of thought is one of the main reasons for your suffering. You must break out of it.

Distraction and mental-control through meditation are the keys to getting over this blocker.

3. Isolation

Never isolate yourself for better suffering.

Call all your friends, make appointments, so that you don't have to spend a minute alone. Go sporting, go on vacation, meet people.

Action is the key.

Isolation gives you time to think. Thinking is bad for you now.

4. Trying to Get Your Ex Back

Hope is a very dangerous thing. At least in a breakup.

There are no rules whether it is possible to get your Ex back or not.

But I strongly advise you to accept the fact that the relationship is over, rather than to try to get back your Ex despairingly.

If you really want to get your Ex back (chances are that you will not with time), then your odds will be much higher when you become a stable personality again.

5. High Ex-Attachment

It is very important that you clean up your place from all the things which remind you of your Ex.

Put all the photos, CDs, letters, gifts in a big box and hide it in the cellar. Don't throw it away; you might regret this one day.

I cannot emphasize the importance of this enough.

Another very vital factor to your healing is the no-contact rule.

Once you know that it's over and there is no more business you have to do regarding the divorce or break up, you should cut off the contact to your Ex completely.

No phone calls, no e-mails, no text messages. Don't go to the places you could meet accidentally.

Believe me, it's for your own good, and this is the only way.

6. Taking No Charge

You have to realize, especially at the beginning, that it's yourself who is responsible for your healing and happiness.

Your Ex does not cause your pain, you do it to yourself with the mindset that you need your Ex to be happy.

Your Ex is not responsible for your happiness!

If you consciously take charge and realize that it's only you who can make a change, then you've made the first step towards a happier life.

7. Self-Punishment

There is something I regularly observe when working with clients:

Most break-up victims have an affinity for suffering, a self-induced compulsion to feel the pain.

It is almost like “Oh, this is a breakup, so I have an obligation to suffer!”.

Trying to break out of this mindset is not easy and causes feelings of guilt. This is the vicious cycle mentioned in no. 2.

Simply resist the compulsion to listen to “your song,” to look at mutual photos, to watch those heart-killing movies, to talk to or stalk your Ex.

Do not torture yourself. Resist!

I know that you may think that these things are your last connection to your Ex, but believe me when I say: all they cause is pain.

You have a right to be free and feel good. It's your choice.

Conclusion

The first months of a breakup or divorce are tough. There is no motivation for doing anything, not to mention working on self-improvement.

The knowledge of certain behavior patterns which cause pain comes in handy.

Avoiding these mistakes cuts off a good part of your arduous journey which lies ahead.

Then you will gain the power to take the “conscious healing” approach and not only survive your break up but gain so much more.

That is the prize which makes all the suffering worthwhile.

Your friend,
Eddie