Breakup Survival Guide
Photo courtesy of Chris McClanahan
“A break up is like a broken mirror. It is better to leave it broken than hurt yourself trying to fix it.”
Breakups aren’t easy. Trust me, I know. In April of 2010, I cancelled my wedding to my love of seven years. It was tough, but I’ve survived. And you will too. Here’s a collection of some of my favorite Simply Solo articles related to breakups. The first list includes posts that chronicle my personal experience, and the second list includes breakup stories from some of my favorite guest bloggers.
Take care of yourself!
Catherine’s Story
- Top 10 Empowering Breakup Songs – The most comprehensive list of empowering breakup songs on the Internets
- Top 10 Best/Worst Breakup Songs – A list of the most depressing breakup songs perfect for wallowing after your breakup
- Breakup Clichés and Words of Wisdom – What people say, and what it really means to someone going through a breakup
- Breakup Prescription – What you need to do to survive your breakup
- (Almost) Over You – One of my favorite posts I wrote about being almost over my ex
- Good Advice Is Only Good When You’re Ready – Some of the best breakup advice I’ve ever read
- Things I Love About Being Single – You gotta find some positive things about your breakup. It’s time to enjoy being single!
- Breakup Hangover – Just when you think you are over your breakup, you can be overwhelmed by sadness
- I Miss You Sometimes – One of my all-time favorite posts about how I miss who I was pre-breakup
- Baggage – The impact of emotional baggage from past relationships and how to move on
- Hello, Anger – My personal journey dealing with the anger after my breakup – especially after my ex moved on with someone else
- My Ex Is Getting Married – My emotions, reaction and pain after finding out that my ex fiancé was engaged to someone else
- Crazy Stuff We Do During Breakups – We all do crazy stuff during breakups. Here’s where we can bond over our craziness
- Cheaters Never Prosper … Or Do They? – A post discussing the intricacies of cheating
- Why I Hate Mr. Big – This post is not only about my hatred of Mr. Big, but bigger picture why I think it’s bad to stay in destructive relationships because people don’t change
- Sex After the Ex – The first sexual experience after a breakup
- Holidays After A Breakup – The struggles of enjoying the holiday season for the first time without your ex
- I Believe In Signs – Trusting your intuition when it comes to relationships
- July 10 – The post I wrote on what would have been my wedding day
- Alone – The need to spend some time being single and focusing on yourself after a breakup
- Good Men Shortage – My first encounter with the perceived lack of available good men after I broke up with someone
- Facebook Breakup Settings – My suggestions for what Facebook should do for people going through breakups
Guest Posts Related to Breakups
- The Better Way to Handle a Break-Up – How to leave a breakup with your self-respect intact
- 3 … 2 … 1 … Happy New You! – The importance of celebrating milestones after a breakup or divorce
- Men and Marriage – Know how some guys will date a girl for years and years, then break up with her and immediately marry the next girl they date? Well the girl they actually married is telling her side of the story – and why if he hasn’t committed, you need to move on
- 4 Ways To Cure Your Broken Heart: Italian-American (Girl) Style – Rachel shares tips for surviving a break up – with the style and pizazz of an Italian-American girl
- Happiness Defined – One of my more controversial guest posts where Halen told her story of leaving her husband because she simply wasn’t happy anymore
- When He Cheats – Courtney tells the story of her boyfriend and father of her five-month-old daughter cheating on her, and how she made the tough decision to move forward with the relationship
- When It’s Just Not Meant To Be – How to handle the end of a relationship with someone who just wasn’t the right one
- How to Cure Heartbreak with Mustard – Bet you never knew you needed mustard to survive a heartbreak – here’s why
- Adventure Is Out There – Embracing adventure and finding a new lease on life after a tough breakup
- Having to Leave The Good Guy – Story of a woman who had to break up with a wonderful guy simply because he wasn’t right for her
- The Great Departure – Getting out of an abusive relationship
- A Nail in the Coffin – Mark’s story of dealing with his ex-wife getting remarried. The Sky’s The Limit is the follow up to this piece about Mark finding love after divorce
- Don’t Ask Silly Questions – How to own being single and handle the “Met anyone special lately?” question
- Just Like My Favorite Pair of Panties – Letting go of relationships that simply aren’t working
- Sometimes the Journey Really is the Reward – Inspiring story of a woman who moved cross country for a guy who then proceeded to break up with her
- February 31 – On waiting to date until you are ready after a breakup
- My Latin American Love Story – A woman’s story of love and heartbreak during a summer abroad
- My Name Is Amelia, And I’m … – Recovering from commitment-phobia after several tough breakups
- Men Who Can’t Love – Woman discusses a book about men who can’t love and explores her own experiences with men who sabotaged relationships with her
- A Lot Can Happen In A Year – A woman reflects on the past year since she cancelled her wedding
- The Hardest Part Is Letting Go – Paul shares his story of losing his first love, who “fell out of love” with him
- Diamonds are Forever (Ruining My Christmas) – All about how much it friggin’ sucks to be single during the endless jewelry commercials at Christmastime
- How I Broke My Own Heart On My Birthday – Volta has to make the tough decision of whether she should stay with someone she loves who only wants a “casual” relationship, or move on alone
- On This Day, I Thee Tri – Melissa takes back her un-wedding day and competes in a triathalon
- The Transference of Negative Relationships – Jimmy shares how one terrible heartbreak negatively impacted all his future relationships, and how he’s trying to start fresh
- Before It Gets Pretty, Sometimes Its Gotta Get Really Ugly … A Love Story – Ali shares her long journey to love, including making the tough decision of calling off an engagement to someone who just wasn’t right for her
Copyright 2012. Simply Solo blog by Catherine Gryp. All Rights Reserved.
32 Comments
leave one →
Trackbacks
- Dating Advice for Men- Attracting Tips, How to Talk to Girls » Blog Archive » A Letter From The Woman Who Ends Up Marrying Your Long Term Boyfriend
- A Letter From The Woman Who Ends Up Marrying Your Long Term Boyfriend
- PerfectDateNow.info - A Letter From The Woman Who Ends Up Marrying Your Long Term Boyfriend
- So You Know A Douche Bag… « Dealing With D*bags
- Breakup Survival Guide | Log of a Lost Emerald
What a great new page! (At least I think its new? I usually read your posts on my phone as opposed to on my lap top…) Very smart and nicely organized– I’m hoping I’ll never have to make use of it, but if I do, I’ll know where to turn!
Kat,
Thanks, it is new! Hoping to have a place where people can easily access old posts. I appreciate your noticing and commenting!
I’m happy I found this Catherine. I’m in a bad, bad place and I’ll read this blog inside out. Thank you.
I’m so sorry to hear you are going through a rough time. I’m sending positive thoughts your way. Take care of yourself
I started following this blog after my last break up but my current one hurts more, not only was he not in the final stages of a divorce he was happily married having two long term affairs and numerous short term ones. Trying to keep my smile but hard to even though he was such a jerk it was a wonderful relationship that included picking an engagement ring type…… shattered when I realised it was all lies but looking after me now!
I’m sorry, AussieButterly. You never know how bad a breakup will hurt, do you? Definitely do focus on you for now, and let your heart heal and be ready to accept someone wonderful.
Telll me why I feel so lost now I feel like my world crashed and in a battle with trying to find a way out its been 1 month yesterday but it hurts just as much as it did the first day my soul hurts so much and I love the hell out of him i was single for a long time so i knew when i would fall in love i woud fall hard I did and my heart hurts so bad i cant describe the trobe in it but it really frekin hurts =[ I swear i try to do my daily task but my world feels dark and im just breathing not living becazuse in the back of my mind he would be the only one to breath llife back into me help i feel so lost and hopless i put up a front iam okay but i fee like im dying inside i miss my jesse so much
Crystal,
I’m really sorry to hear about your breakup. Know that you are not alone, many of us have felt the hurt you are going through. It’s not permanent, it’s temporary, and you will overcome this. Just try to take good care of yourself, spend time with family and friends, focus on the positive things in your life, and stop the negative track in your head and try to remind yourself that you are strong and special and you will be OK. Thinking about you
My boyfriend and I broke up on March 4, 2012. We were together for 2 years, I am only 19 years old, but he was the love of my life. I’ve lost so many family members at a very young age and it hurts so much to have lost another person that I have loved. I thought he was everything that I ever wanted, but he was never sure of what he wanted. He gave me a promise ring, a picture frame that had our names engraved on it along with our anniversary and the feeling that we were going to be together for many more years. So here I am, on spring break trying to keep busy, but the one I love only lives a few miles down the road. Does he miss me, does he even think about driving by my house to see if I’m home, or has he moved on already. I just want to know if he misses me, why am I the one suffering when he lied during our whole relationship because he said he was never “in love” with me but he loved me. How can someone’s feelings just be shut off one day and not want anything to do with them. I haven’t talked to him in three days which is so hard because for the past two years we talked every day more than one time a day. Here am I suffering, but why. I fell in love too easily and I don’t know how to fall out of it. I just want him to call me and say that he misses me. I wanna wake up to him by my side. ugh..I wanna text him so bad, help!
Aww, Rae, I’m so sorry to hear what you’re going through. Gosh, I feel like so many of us can empathize with all the feelings you have right now. We all want to know if he misses us. We all want to call or text. It takes time to get over these feelings. You just have to be strong to get through the hard days. Rely on friends and family and always take care of yourself first. Soon, you’ll find yourself thinking of him a bit less. It’ll hurt a bit less. And someday you’ll love again. You are young and I promise this will not be the last time you love. Just remind yourself that everything happens for a reason even if you don’t understand it right now. And maybe read It’s Called A Breakup Because It’s Broken – great book to help you through.
Yesterday, i found out my boyfriend of three years has been cheating on me the entire length of our relationship. He is 44 and i am 37. I have not words. I do know that i’m not alone and i thank you for that. Im scared but at the same time i have to remember that being afraid doesn’t make me a coward.
Sylvia,
“I have to remember that being afraid doesn’t make me a coward.”
You are so right about that and keep reminding yourself that. You are in an awful situation but you deserve so much better. You will find it. But in the meantime focus on yourself and heal. I’m sending positive thoughs your way!
Thats a fantastic quote up at the top!
Thanks, Christina! I like it too!
Thank you so much for the support….I absolutly love this blog. It is a blessing to know that I’m not the only one out there who is struggling. It’s almost been a month since my break up and each day gets a little easier, but we still have our days of weakness and thats okay. A new journey is starting…focus on yourself and be the best you can be for you and no one else.
Rae,
“Focus on yourself and be the best you can be for you and no one else.” Beautiful and EXACTLY! Thanks for participating in my little blog and sharing your thoughts
I randomly stumbled upon your blog as I was searching good break up songs so I could sing instead of texting my ex bf . I read the entire break up survival guide and it made me feel alot better about ending a 3 years relationship. I’ve had a couple of good laughs, so thank you
I look forward to your next entries 
Greetings from Canada !
Mel,
More to come, for sure! Take care.
Sorry to hear what you are going through – but thanks so much for reading. I’m really glad it helped
Hey Catherine,
My name is Ruby. I’m only 15 and my (now ex) is 16. He and I had been dating for almost 7 months (anniversary tomorrow) and Sunday, I got mad at him for not being able to make time for me lately and not really acting like his usual sweet self. Anyway, he broke up with me and then decided I had “one week” to prove that we,can be friends and still date without any fights. Anyway, I saw him the day after and everything was going fine, and we cried andwere talking things out. Soon after though, my mom and I got into a fight about irrelevant stuff and he decided that I was being immature and so that was the reason he apparently broke up with me again, Monday night. Tuesday, he told me not the text him at all because he needed space and he canceled a visit and a Boston trip that we had planned a while back which was going to take place that days and the boston trip, Wednesday. He didn’t all to me or reply to any of my calls or texts for the next day until Wednesday night, when he got home from Boston, texted me and told me he was sorry for everything. I was so glad to see his text, that I ignored everything else. Thursday night, I had made the mistake of telling him how much o regretted everything and missed him, and he wanted to move on from the past. And some said goodnight and then left. Yesterday, he didn’t text me good morning or anything and I texted him while i was at work not understanding that I had hurt him the previous night. anyway, he snapped at me and told me not to text him and all I wanted to do was just talk. That’s all. But he refused and stopped texting me. We ended up chatting on the phone last night until he wanted to go to bed. I told him everything pretty much. (personal story sorta) but then he said if I don’t text him today, at all, than maybe we can be friends. And so that is what I’m doing. But I loved your articles. They help me realize that maybe, even after everything, that he isn’t the right guy for me. I loved your tips and personal stories because they really help me not dwell over his actions, and reassure me that I can possibly just trudge through this without him. And there are better people. That you for posting these articals. I bookmarked the page and so whenever I have the urge to text him today, or in the future, to beg for him back, I can go back and re-read your articles and realize that I’ll survive this with him, or without him:’) thank you so muchhh
Thank you so much for all your words of wisdom! Definitely easy to relate to and nice to know there are others who have felt the same and have insight on how to deal. I’ve nominated you for the “Very Inspiring Blogger Award” and the details are here http://notthesinger.wordpress.com/2012/07/06/very-inspiring-blogger-award/ if you’re interested. Looking forward to more amazing posts
Absolutely love your blog!
Thank you so much! Appreciate your stopping by!
Hi just came across your blog. I recently came from a break up last year as well. But it turned out to be the gateway before I met the love of my life. My husband. I hope I can share some thoughts with you too here on this bittersweet but beautiful journey.
http://lifeisgelato.wordpress.com/category/life-love-faith/
Congratulations Tina! Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your story. It’s a great inspiration for others who think their breakup is the end of the road – it could really be the best beginning ever!
What a great source of information, some of the old blogs were a great read, having just ended a relationship by mutual consent I was on the lookout for something like this, it certainly help to make you see your are not the only one …. onward and upwards thanks again.
Jaq
So many interesting, heartfelt, and eye stopping entries. Going to make a cup of coffee and then read some more.
Watch this video my friend and I made about break up one liners. I’m sure you will use one of these or already have in your life!