How do you cope with the end of a short-term relationship?

The end of any relationship can be painful, but it can be especially difficult when it's a short-term one that you may have invested a lot of emotion into. Whether it was a two-week fling or a nine-month affair, the sudden end of a relationship feels abrupt. Here are some tips for dealing with the breakdown of such a situation.

Accept the Change

It can be hard to accept that the relationship has come to an end. It may bring up conflicting emotions and it's okay to feel sad and hurt, even if the relationship wasn't as long-term as some. But, in order to move on, you need to accept that it is over. Moving forward can be difficult, but it is necessary to process your feelings and move on.

Do What's Best for You

It can be easy to blame the other person or feel sorry for yourself, but neither won’t help you move on. Instead, take time for yourself and stay focused on what is best for you. This could mean taking a break from dating for a while or purely focusing on them – whatever will make the situation easier. Remember that you are important and that it is more beneficial to do things that make you happy instead of trying to please someone else.

Stay Social

Although you may feel like being alone and wallowing in sadness, try to stay social. Maintaining your regular day-to-day routine, or even going out with friends, is an excellent way to distract yourself and allow time for healing. Allow yourself time to process the situation and cry it out if that helps. Doing activities which boost your physical or mental energy will make it easier to get over the sadness and start a new chapter in life.

Find Support

Reaching out to a good friend, family member or professional therapist can help too. Not only can they give sound advice, but simply knowing you have someone in your corner can make all the difference in the world. Talking about the breakup and how it has made you feel can be difficult, but it is essential for death. Taking inventory and processing the emotions involved in the breakup may help put it all into perspective.

Set Goals

Focusing on personal goals you set can help too. Having something small to focus on like painting or taking a class can give you a sense of purpose and take your mind off the breakup. Setting goals gives you a sense of control and direction. It's a way to tell yourself that everything will be okay, as long as you focus on what matters.

Dealing with the end of a short-term relationship doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By accepting the change, doing what’s best for you, staying social, finding support, and setting goals, you’ll soon find that you can move past the breakup and on to bigger and better things.