SELFCARE | mental health Womanthismonth.com 86 February 2024 Understanding Heartbreak Dealing with heartbreak, of any kind, can be one of the most challenging things a person goes through. Recognising the significance of acknowledging and managing these emotions, Joslin Gracias, a CDA-licensed psychologist at Thrive Wellbeing Centre in Dubai, shares her strategies for navigating emotional turbulence. Heartbreak, an inevitable facet of the human experience, often leaves individuals grappling with intense emotions and uncertainty. Heartbreak, whether stemming from the dissolution of a romantic relationship, the loss of a loved one, or other impactful life events, can trigger a range of emotions, including sadness, grief, anger and confusion. Effective coping strategies to navigate the turbulent waters of heartbreak are necessary. We all have dealt with heartbreak in relationships and friendships and know the grimness of the pain it brings. It’s a mixed bag of emotions we have no choice but to deal with. While we have different ways that we each like to handle and deal with breakups, I like to think of the five stages of grief when dealing with heartbreaks. Stage 1: Denial Not wanting to deal with difficult emotions that encompass heartbreak is denial, and being aware of this can help us understand our process better instead of pressuring ourselves to get over it. Stage 2: Anger It is expected that we start to resent our expartners or friends for being a cause of the emotional upheaval and pain. We must allow ourselves to acknowledge the anger that we are feeling and find healthy outlets like journaling, self-talk and expressing it to a nonjudgmental friend. Stage 3: Bargaining This looks like trying to see if there is still hope or finding a middle ground to deal with the pain caused. Wanting to get rid of the pain becomes the primary goal. Stage 4: Depression It’s normal to feel sad when going through heartbreak. Also, the reality that nothing can change the situation causes depressed feelings. Stage 5: Acceptance It takes time, but when you reach this stage, you will gather all the broken pieces and be able to face reality. This part cannot be rushed or demanded; it’s a process.
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