Life After An Unhealthy Relationship

After It’s Over

Walking out of a relationship you know isn’t good for you is difficult enough. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the hard times are over. It’s normal to have a whirlwind of emotions after you make the decision to leave. Learning to tame these feelings and take care of yourself is a key factor in recovering and moving forward. Here are a few things to remember as you begin your healing process.

Surround Yourself with Supportive People

The group that you surround yourself with is incredibly important, whether it’s family, friends, or even co-workers. Not only is it beneficial to have others that you can trust and talk openly to but having people in your life that encourage you and want the best for you will help you heal.

Take Time to Process

Don’t push aside the things you’re feeling as if they don’t matter. Believe me, they do! Everybody processes differently. Some may feel happy to be out of the relationship, while others may be struggling to grieve what could have been. Some process alone or by talking with people they trust. No way of thinking is wrong. Whatever your process may be, don’t neglect the time to understand how you feel.

Forgive Yourself

Once you step out of an unhealthy relationship, it can be easy to blame yourself for ever getting into it in the first place. You may feel frustrated and like you wasted so much of your time and energy on something temporary. Blaming yourself will only make you feel worse. Instead, find acceptance in what happened. Think about all the valuable lessons you learned from this experience!

Focus on the Future

Looking back prevents you from looking forward. Be careful of getting so caught up in the past that you forget to look towards your future. Continuing to dwell on what could have been doesn’t get you anywhere. Remember that your future isn’t hopeless, just different.

Take Care of Yourself

Taking care of your needs is important. After leaving a relationship, it can be difficult to build back motivation. Maybe for a few days all you feel like doing is lying in bed with your thoughts. Whatever your process, self-care isn’t something you should put off. Taking time to engage in your hobbies can help ease your stress and lift your mood. Slowly the feelings of productivity will start to trickle back in.

You’ve Got This!

Moving on from an unhealthy relationship is hard, but not impossible. The hard times won’t last forever. You took the first big step by deciding to leave the relationship in the first place. If you’re strong enough to do that, you’re strong enough to do anything!

How We Can Help

We are here for you whether you are facing an STD or an unexpected pregnancy. To schedule your free and confidential appointment click here, call us at (530)-272-6800, or text us at (530)-802-0858.

Sources and Links

Ripes, Jesse. “13 Tips for How to Heal From a Toxic Relationship”. Modern Intimacy. 21 April 2021.
https://www.modernintimacy.com/13-tips-for-how-to-heal-from-a-toxic-relationship/

Taylor Counseling Group. “Moving on After a Toxic Relationship”. Taylor Counseling Group. 28 July 2021.
https://taylorcounselinggroup.com/blog/moving-on-after-a-toxic-relationship/#:~:text=After%20leaving%20someone%20who%20treats,you%20for%20your%20toxic%20relationship.