Programs & Services > Counselling > Depression & stress > Issues you may be facing
Issues you may be facing
Dealing with feelings of sadness after the breakup of a relationship | Learning to understand and deal with symptoms of clinical depression | Steps to take to get help | Learning how to deal with stress
Dealing with feelings of sadness after the break-up of a relationship
Many people who experience a breakup of a relationship feel a sense of loss. During this period, many experience feelings of sadness, and may appear preoccupied and withdrawn; temporarily lose their sense of humour; may not seem very energetic and may think a lot about the past.
If you have just gone through this experience, know that there is a difference between sadness and depression. Sadness is easier to recover from than depression and it usually lasts a shorter time.
It is important that you allow yourself to experience some sadness, especially given the fact that the relationship that has just ended may have been very important to you.
Although you will recover from this sadness in time, there are some things you can do to speed your recovery along:
- Be realistic in assigning responsibility
for the breakup. Relationships are a two-way street. It's
important to try and learn what you can from the experience while
not dwelling on it indefinitely.
- One way to avoid dwelling on the relationship is to ensure
that other things are happening in your life. Don't
give in to the tendency to stay home alone thinking and brooding
over the lost relationship. Get out of your home or apartment and
go somewhere even if you have to make up a destination (i.e. library,
shopping, community centre, etc.).
- Don't avoid your friends. Although
you may feel like being alone most of the time, it really isn't good
for you. If you're worried about being "bad company" just remember
that most friends are less critical of you than you are of yourself.
- Finally, be patient and allow your feelings to run their course.
To arrange for counselling, please call our Service Access Unit, Tel: 416.595.9618
