Where to look for support after a difficult breakup

Life after a breakup can sometimes feel like being lost at sea. You don’t want to go it alone with these feelings of sadness, so where can you look for support after a difficult breakup?

When a relationship ends

When you have been in a relationship for a long time, even a bad one, you learn to get used to your life with that person. You are a part of one another’s lives and when that relationship breaks down, everything changes.

There are a lot of benefits to living alone, and there is no reason why you can’t thrive as a single person, although it can still feel quite lonely. Regaining your independence is important, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t look to others for support during this difficult time. These are some of the best places to look for support after a difficult breakup.

Friends and family

Your friends and family are the most obvious source of support after a breakup, but a lot of people withdraw from the people around them during this period. If you have a shared friend group with your ex, you may worry that people are going to take sides and they won’t want to speak with you.

Dealing with friends after a breakup can be tough, but most people won’t take sides and they will want to hear from you. Your family will definitely be there for you as well, so make sure that you reach out to people and don’t withdraw from your loved ones.

Difficult breakup? Online networks can help

There are so many great places that you can go online for advice and support, or even just for a chat. Go to sites like the Step Up Women’s Network, for example, where you can read posts from other women that have been through difficult breakups with abusive partners.

Reading inspirational stories about women that are rebuilding their lives and thriving outside of these bad relationships will help you to put things in perspective. It will show you that you are not alone.

Books

There are so many great books out there that can help you to deal with a difficult breakup. The experiences of other people that have been in the same position as you can be very enlightening.

There are a lot of great self help books that can give you actionable advice to help you meet your goals and get the most out of life. The advice won’t always work for you but if you explore a few different books, you should be able to find something that resonates with you.

Support groups

If you have been in a relationship with an abusive partner, it is likely that you will be suffering from trauma. It is important that you deal with that trauma in a safe environment, and support groups can be a big help here.

It is difficult to talk about abuse, especially to those close to you, but in a safe environment with other survivors, you may find that it is easier to open up. Having that support network there can be a huge help, so look for some local support groups in your area and go along. A divorce support group is what inspired Rene Mondy to create Dear John The Box to empower women following a breakup, on Galentine’s Day and beyond.

Final words on coping with a difficult breakup

It’s normal to feel lost when you come out of a bad breakup, even if you know that ending the relationship was the best thing to do. But if you give it time and you reach out to people for support, things will start to get better.