How do I feel better from a break up?

Hi Allie, going through a breakup is so hard, especially when it is your first love. I am so glad that you reached out for support to help you cope. Mental health can definitely have a significant impact on our relationships with others and so it is wise to address that issue and take care of your own well-being. You owe that to yourself. When you are feeling like your best self you bring that best self into the relationship.

Without knowing a lot of detail about your mental health concerns, one thing that is recommended is to reach out to a trained psychotherapist. This person is there to listen and can help you identify your core mental health issues. They will also work with you to develop coping skills and other tools to manage your mental health. Your therapist can also reflect with you and help you discover what might have been happening emotionally that led you to cross boundaries. 

There are also several important steps that you can take to cope with your current breakup. Recognize your feelings as all being natural. As hard as it is, let yourself feel them rather than avoid them. Counterintuitively, avoiding them gives them more power. Trust that they will pass and you will not feel this way forever. 

Now is a really important time to dig deeply into self care. Although they can seem very basic, be sure to get plenty of rest and fuel your body with nutritious foods. This is especially important now. Get some exercise. Even something like a brief walk outdoors can release endorphins and help you to begin feeling better. Make an effort to integrate into your life the things that bring you joy, however big or small. It could be savoring a favorite cup of coffee, or planning that trip that you have always wanted to take. Now is the time to nurture your soul.                     

Although there is a tendency to want to withdraw and move inward when going through a breakup, reach out to friends and family members who love you. It can be helpful to know that others care and likely have experienced something similar at some point in their lives. You are not alone.

This can be a beneficial time to improve your mental health and be emotionally prepared for your next relationship. I wish you all the best on your healing journey.