Susan K. Bertelson, Ph.D.

(770) 668-0350

For most people, the past Valentine’s Day was a cheerful holiday consisting of candy, flowers, and fond greetings.  For those people who have recently lost a romantic relationship, however, it may have been a distressing day that emphasized their loss and  reminded them of their present solitary state. 

While it is true that time will usually heal the wounds resulting from a romantic break up, there are also some things that people can do to facilitate their grieving process and feel better about themselves.  The following suggestions are given to those of you who have recently lost a love relationship and want to deal with it in a healthy way. 

 1.  Schedule one positive event each day in order to have something to anticipate.  Now is a good time to try a new activity.

 2.  Compartmentalize - Schedule on time during the day to think about the lost relationship and grieve.  If thoughts occur outside this time, consciously make an effort to postpone them until the next “grief session.” 

3.  Think realistically about the lost relationship.  Don’t diminish yourself while you idealize the person who left.