There are nearly a thousand different ways to cope with a breakup. In most cases, it means crying in your room while listening to the saddest songs you can find and eating entire pints of ice cream during a single sitting. While the tears and the ice cream help, the songs on a "doom and gloom" playlist are probably what is going to have the biggest impact.
Here are some tracks to play when you're feeling down that aren't necessarily going to make you feel any better, but to remind you that the emotions you're feeling are universally understood.
"All Too Well" by Taylor Swift.
This is the original heartbreak song. It's a perfect description of the highs and lows of getting through a romantic split. Swift has a way of making you feel understood and validating your emotions with this track. "All Too Well" is guaranteed to give listeners a good, much-needed cry.
"Stupid" by Tate McRae.
It's hard to get over someone, especially if you were with them for a long period of time. Sometimes, we beat ourselves up for still holding on to some aspects of the relationship. McRae encapsulates this feeling with catchy beats and relatable lyrics.
"Always" by Rex Orange County.
While not a breakup song, "Always" is the epitome of getting stuck in the same old cycle after something devastating and depressing. The point of this song is to remind listeners that they need other people because they're going to help the most during a difficult time.
"Lose You To Love Me" by Selena Gomez.
Hearing this song is an immediate tear-jerker. Especially in relationships that aren't beneficial for an individual's emotional wellbeing, it's important to know when to walk away and what there is to gain by leaving.
"1 Sided Love" by blackbear.
Some types of breakups can evoke a sense of defeat because of a lack of control over the outcome. "1 Sided Love" is one of those tracks for when your hands are tied.
"Falling" by Harry Styles.
Out of an entire album about sex and sadness, "Falling" was a song that stuck out to a lot of fans off of Harry's most recent work. It's a brutally honest song about what it feels like to still be in love even after a split.
"Lookalike" by Conan Gray.
Certain songs or certain smells can easily bring someone back to a memory or remind them of a specific person. This song talks about how we tend to look for old loves in new interests: "don't lie, it's just a lookalike."
"You're Gonna Live Forever in Me" by John Mayer.
As cliché as it sounds, some people (romantic or not) become a part of who you are and stay a chapter in your story. Sometimes, it's reassuring and other times it's just sad, but regardless, John Mayer has a way of romanticizing a breakup like no one else can.
"Cut You Off" by Selena Gomez.
Selena's sharp and edgy beat in this track makes cutting of old lovers seem easy: "I don't overthink it, I just carry on." While that's not always the case, a subtle diss track is a good place to start.
"Rainbow" by Kacey Musgraves.
"Rainbow" is a perfect song to play as the tears are drying and you're starting to feel okay again. As Musgraves beautifully sings, "it'll all be alright."
