How To (Actually) Help Your Friend Through A Breakup
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

How To (Actually) Help Your Friend Through A Breakup

This may require a tiny bit more than wine and ice cream

14
How To (Actually) Help Your Friend Through A Breakup
The Round Peg

Heartbreak sucks, and now, it's your friend's turn. This has fundamentally rocked their foundation. The person who used to whisper sweet nothings, who helped choose what was for dinner, who was their most trusted person during trivia game nights, has left them. And, unfortunately, you’re the one left holding the hot potato. Here’s a quick guide on what to do when your friend gets broken up with.

Acknowledge the heartbreak

Your friend’s significant other ate up a lot more free time than you realized. During this period of recovery and recuperation, it’s important that you calculate exactly how much time has been freed up in their schedule.

Help them keep a routine


A clear and documented sign of depression is discontinuing activities or rituals that used to give you joy. If your friend gives up hobbies that you know for a fact that they used to enjoy, that’s a clear warning sign. They may not appreciate you for this at first, but over time, your friend will thank you for helping them not quit their passionate

Pasttime. Figure out their next move


During this time of introspection, and personal growth, it's very important that you help your friend figure out exactly what it is they want to gain from this breakup. Are they going to try to get their partner back? Are they going to take a page from “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” and try to remove them from their memory entirely? This is probably where your friend will want you to help out first. Figuring out the first step after a breakup can very well predict their ‘moving on’ trajectory.

Keep them away from social media


Social media is just complete toxic. Make sure they’re not following them on whichever platforms they consume. If your friend spends all their time obsessing over what their ex-posts… their world will crumble when an ambiguous person decides to join them in an intimately looking photo.


You can’t.


You can be the absolute best support system in the universe— but in the grand scheme of things, if your friend is not ready to get better they simply won’t. Encourage them to venture back out into the big bad world. Sure, it may cost you a few of your precious “alone nights” but before you know it, they’ll be telling you about that cute barista they’ve been chatting up at Starbucks.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

100591
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments