Heartbreak can feel overwhelming, but it happens to most people at least once in their lives. Whether a relationship ended suddenly or slowly faded over time, the emotional pain can affect your thoughts, sleep, appetite and daily routines. It can also make you feel like you’ll never move on. If you’re wondering how to get over heartbreak, it’s important to know that healing doesn’t happen overnight—but it does happen.

Many therapists describe heartbreak as a form of grief, though it can trigger or worsen symptoms of major depressive disorder. You’re adjusting to the loss of a relationship, shared plans and a version of the future you imagined. Getting over heartbreak doesn’t have a definitive timeline, and some people move on faster than others.

With time, support and healthy coping strategies, it’s possible to move forward and feel like yourself again.

If you’re looking for heartbreak recovery tips that are often recommended by therapists, here are seven to try:

• Allow yourself to grieve

One of the most important steps in healing from heartbreak is giving yourself permission to feel what you feel.

Many people try to push emotions away or “stay strong,” but suppressing feelings can make the path toward healing a longer journey. Breakups often bring waves of complicated emotions, including:

• Sadness
• Anger
• Confusion
• Loneliness
• Relief
• Regret

These emotions can come and go unpredictably. Instead of judging your reactions, try to acknowledge them with compassion. Saying something like, “This hurts because the relationship mattered to me,” can help validate your experience.

• Create healthy distance from the relationship

Healing can be harder when reminders of the relationship are constantly present. Creating emotional and digital space may help you process the breakup more clearly.

Some people find it helpful to:

• Take a break from checking their ex partner’s social media
• Move photos or messages into a separate folder
• Return or store items connected to the relationship

This doesn’t mean you’re trying to erase the past. Instead, it gives your mind room to adjust to the present.

• Lean on supportive people

Heartbreak can feel isolating, especially when it comes from the person who you would normally lean on during hard times. But this is also the time to appreciate the other people in your life who care about you.

Talking to someone you trust can help you work through your thoughts and emotions. Support may come from:

• Close friends
• Family members
• Support groups
• A therapist or counselor

Sometimes, simply being heard can make a meaningful difference. Sharing your experience with someone who listens without judgment can help you feel like you have someone in your corner.

• Take care of your body while you heal

Emotional pain can also affect you physically. You may notice changes in sleep, appetite or energy levels following a heartbreak.

While it may feel difficult, basic self-care can help boost your mood and support emotional recovery.

Small steps may include:

• Getting enough rest
• Going for short walks
• Eating regular meals
• Staying hydrated
• Practicing gentle movement or stretching

These habits won’t remove heartbreak instantly, but they can help your mind and body start to recover from the stress.

• Be careful with self-blame

After a breakup, many people replay the relationship in their minds and wonder what they could have done differently, or if there were any red flags they missed.

While reflection can be healthy, excessive self-blame often slows down healing.

Relationships are complex, and rarely does one person carry all the responsibility for how things unfolded. If you notice your thoughts becoming overly critical, try reframing them with curiosity instead of judgment.

For example, instead of thinking, “I ruined everything,” try, “What can I learn from this experience for future relationships?”

• Reconnect with parts of yourself

A relationship can often shape how we spend our time, energy and attention. When one ends, it can leave space that feels unfamiliar.

Reconnecting with yourself can be an important step in moving forward.

You might try:

• Revisiting hobbies you enjoyed before the relationship
• Exploring new interests
• Spending time in environments that feel calming or inspiring
• Setting small personal goals

These experiences can help rebuild a sense of identity outside the relationship.

• Consider professional support if healing feels stuck

While heartbreak is a common human experience, sometimes the emotional impact can feel especially intense or long-lasting.

If you notice that sadness, anxiety or intrusive thoughts are interfering with your daily life, professional mental health support may help.

A therapist can do more than just provide tips. They can help you:

• Process the emotional impact of the breakup
• Identify patterns in relationships
• Develop coping strategies for grief and loss
• Rebuild confidence and self-trust

Working with a supportive mental health professional can provide guidance during a difficult transition.

If your heartbreak has caused mental health symptoms that are persistent, worsening or difficult to manage, you may need more intensive support than what a therapist can provide, and that’s OK.

Lightfully provides four levels of care for people who need structured support for mental health conditions associated with heartbreak:

• Residential Treatment Center
• Partial Hospitalization Program (Day Treatment Program) 
• Intensive Outpatient Program
• Virtual Services (vPHP/vIOP) 

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.