No relationship is perfect. Intimate relationships and marriages may have very happy and romantic beginnings, but there is no assurance they will last forever. Problems will surely come, and if the couple cannot surmount them, the inevitable end may be a relationship breakup. This is a sad fact of life that happens every day. We may not like it, but we can do nothing except to get up, move on, and hope for better luck the next time we fall in love, if that happens at all.

Some people have a hard time recovering from a relationship breakup. There are those who become depressed, stay home all the time and neglect their health, and may also lose their jobs. The pain can be so great for some people that they commit suicide. But that is an extreme situation that can be avoided. There are techniques anyone can learn to cope effectively with a relationship breakup. There is help available, including guidance from people who have healed and moved on after a breakup. These people have shown that there are ways to effectively tackle a relationship breakup and survive it relatively unscathed.

One helpful technique to survive a relationship breakup is to be kind to yourself. Be gentle and loving to yourself at this time of grief and loneliness. Be your own best friend. Give yourself things that will make you smile or improve your mood. If you enjoy chocolates, go ahead and indulge. If retail therapy works for you, then go ahead and shop, but make sure you don’t get into debt in the process. Also remember that it is alright to cry and let all the sadness and pain out. You must acknowledge the hurt and pain, before healing can happen.

To cheer you up, do things that you find enjoyable. Engage in a sport activity, listen to music, watch a movie, cross-stitch, or take up a hobby. There may be some activity that made you happy but you had no chance to do when you were in a relationship. Now that you have some time on your hands after a relationship breakup, try to take up that activity again. The idea is to do something enjoyable to lift up your mood.

Also try to get in touch with family and friends, especially if you haven’t talked to them for a long time. Many people, when they get married or enter a serious relationship, do not get to talk with their siblings, parents, former best friends, or just friends from college or work. Look up someone who may be available and get together. Having someone to talk to, or just being around family and supportive people, will make you feel much better and not so lonely.

Lastly, get up on your feet. Don’t lie down in bed or on some couch all day. Keep active. Work out. Join a gym or just exercise at home. When you sweat from exercise, your body releases hormones called endorphins. Another name for them is “happy hormones” because they make people feel buoyant and cheerful. This is the perfect solution to the depression or sadness you might have after a relationship breakup. Exercise will also help you stay healthy and fit, so that you’ll be in great shape when you feel ready to date again.