Breakups—whether you’re the one who has initiated the split or not—aren’t fun. In fact, they’re the very opposite of fun: they’re emotionally, mentally, sometimes even physically taxing. And yes, they can even bring on bouts of depression.

Healthy Vs. Unhealthy Reactions 

There are healthy and unhealthy reactions to a breakup. And knowing the difference between the two will help you understand where you stand mentally and emotionally. So let’s break it down. Healthy reactions may include…

• Intense feelings of sadness

• Anger and frustration

• Loss of interest in the things you love

• Difficulty sleeping and focusing

If you’re familiar with depression, you might’ve noticed that the above bullet points are also symptoms of depression. Well, they’re also completely normal reactions to a breakup, as long as they continue to improve. You should be more concerned if at least five of the following bullet points align with your current state of being and persist for two weeks or longer, as it meets the criteria for depression and likely means you are depressed:

• Intense feelings of sadness or hopelessness

• Loss of interest in the things you love

• Significant change in weight or appetite

• Feelings of worthlessness or self-loathing

• Difficulty sleeping

• Changes in activity levels

• Fatigue or loss of energy

• Difficulty concentrating

• Suicidal thoughts

Avoid Depression and Heal Well after a Breakup

While we’re at a greater risk of becoming depressed after a breakup, the good news is that we can take action to steer clear of the darkness and heal properly.  Kayce Hodos, Licensed Professional Counselor is an expert on the matter and knows just how difficult a breakup can be. “A breakup can feel like the death of a loved one—or even worse because the loved one chose to leave you,” she says. But that’s not to say that no good can come from this tough experience. Hodos explains how to find solid ground, build yourself back up, and even thrive moving forward: 

1) Find solid ground:

“Grieving over the end of a relationship is supposed to be hard, so giving yourself permission to feel what you feel is step one,” Hodos explains. “Think of what you typically do to cope with stress and make those strategies your priority. You may just feel like curling up under your favorite fuzzy blanket, so allow some time for this, but then make an effort to move forward. Put on your favorite playlist and dance it out, call a trusted friend and go grab some comfort food, pick up that book you’ve had on your to-read list, but haven’t had time for, etc. Focusing on actions you can take that give you some control will help you feel grounded and empowered in the midst of your breakup.”

2) Build yourself up.

“Think of some personal and/or professional goals that have been on the back burner and identify some steps you can take to get closer to making them happen,” Hodos suggests. “Spruce up that resume, research that trip you’ve always wanted to go on, start visualizing how you want your life to look — even if you have to fake it a little. You aren’t there yet, and you don’t even feel like yourself right now, BUT you can use your imagination, and you do still have dreams. Do some writing about what is amazing about you! What have you accomplished? What are you proud of? Ask your most trusted friends and/or family members for help if you need it.”

3) Thrive.

“At some point (certainly not while the breakup is still fresh), you will begin to feel better,” says Hodos. “As the wounds heal, reflect for a bit (maybe even set a timer for 5 minutes to avoid getting lost in the black hole of regret) on what the relationship taught you. What did you learn about yourself? What are you now aware of in terms of what you want in your next relationship? Even relationships that end weren’t all bad. Honor the good times and find value in the not-so-good ones. Envision your new singlehood as an opportunity to be independent and fearless and look forward to your next relationship with healthy expectations for the kind of partner you want to be with. If you need help doing so, think about working with a counselor. They can help you work through those depressive feelings in addition to building yourself back up after a breakup.”

Hopefully, these tips will help you heal well after a breakup and avoid falling into a depressed state. If that’s not the case and you think that you’re depressed, consider working with a counselor who can offer individualized tips for living happily again after your breakup and managing your depression. 

Authors: 

Anthony Centore Ph.D. is Founder and CEO at Thriveworks--a counseling practice, focused on premium client care, with 80+ locations across the USA. He is Private Practice Consultant for the American Counseling Association, columnist for Counseling Today magazine, and Author of How to Thrive in Counseling Private Practice. Anthony is a multistate Licensed Professional Counselor and has been quoted in national media sources including The Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, and CBS Sunday Morning.

Taylor Bennett is a staff writer at Thriveworks. She devotes herself to distributing important information about mental health and wellbeing, writing mental health news and self-improvement tips daily. Taylor received her bachelor’s degree in multimedia journalism, with minors in professional writing and leadership from Virginia Tech. She has published content on Thought Catalog, Odyssey, and The Traveling Parent.