Dear all,

I thought it was time I made a contribution to everything that has been written on this amazing site.

When I read brav3’s post last year, I thought, “Hm-m-m, that sounds very familiar.” Indeed, it almost matched word for word what I had read before in a practical book written by a practising Russian psychotherapist Andrey Zberovskiy on how to survive breakups.

The book is 200+ pages long, and here is the gist of it. I tried to describe what is meant under each item, but, of course, it is impossible to render all of the ideas and observations. The author would begin each chapter with letters describing this or that situation and then proceed to his knowledge of the workings of the psyche, to his recommendations and to some truths that he was able to derive from his practice. I permitted myself some commenting here and there, but I hope they are easily distinguishable.

The title in Russian is for those who might be able to read in Russian (one can find this book online for free).

Thirty Pieces of Advice If Your Love Story Is Finished Forever

(the credit goes to a practising Russian psychotherapist Andrey Zberovskiy)

(in Russian, «Тридцать советов если ваши любовные отношения закончились навсегда» by А. В. Зберовский)

1. If your love is no longer there, leave stylishly, quickly and unambiguously

Basically, the idea is not to procrastinate more than necessary if you know that your love is gone. Make it beautiful so that you have pleasant memories and (if you are the one who leaves) so that your ex doesn’t hold on to false hope and can start rebuilding his or her life ASAP.

2. Don’t try to hold on to somebody who has tried to leave you more than once

S/he will for sure leave eventually.

3. Know what tricks your mind may play on you during this transition period (depression, apathy, anxiety, obsessive thoughts, etc.)

Remember that it is perfectly normal to feel what you feel. Allow yourself the time to grieve. And don’t hesitate to turn to a doctor and/or medications if necessary.

4. Don’t believe that you will never love again

Humans are bound to fall in love (infatuation – coupling – love – children – procreation – Mother Nature).

5. Don’t listen to love songs in a language that you understand

The lyrics will trigger painful memories.

Also here: hide the photos where you are together, birthday presents, etc., change the route to work or any other route that you would normally use. Basically, try to get rid of as many things that bring on painful memories as you can. I guess no contact rule (including social media) should be included here.

6. Don’t tell others about your love story

The idea is that our brains are similar to computer drives. That is if we keep rewriting and rerecording (retelling in this case) the same story, it will be much more difficult for our brains to forget or to bury the love story under new impressions, new experiences, new emotions.

It is okay to write about it in a diary – it helps some people to process what happened. Talking about it two or three times may work for the same purpose. The key is not to wallow in it longer than necessary. Stop in time.

Learning a new language is an excellent distraction and may work wonders for the brain (and a benefit to you in general – you will be able to expand your circle of acquaintances!)

8. Don’t even think about a suicide!
9. Convince yourself that what happened is far from being an exceptional tragedy

Look around – how many people have been dumped and under worse circumstances than you! Also, how many people have lost their loved ones forever (to death).

Also, try to recall what you didn’t quite like in your ex – for sure, there was a thing or two that you didn’t appreciate (and that could be a red flag, even a HUGE red flag).

Pity the one with who you parted way.

Become angry with your ex.

9. Become better and more successful in life

Here, the idea is not to bring your ex down after the breakup (by denigrating or belittling him or her (or taking any type of revenge on him or her)). The trick is to elevate oneself (careerwise, moneywise, etc.) so that you might not even find him or her attractive from that new position in your life in the long run.

Any distraction will work, such as home upgrade, repairs, new furniture, new layout, new projects at work or anywhere else, change in your outlook, doing something you have always wanted to do (better yet if this was something that your ex didn’t quite approve of)…

11. No alcohol (or drugs for that matter)
12. Keep an eye on your health after your breakup

You wouldn’t believe how many people get distracted and become victims of car accidents, falls, and so on and so forth. Also, chronic diseases may raise their head because of stress.

12. Use positive counterstress to deal with postbreakup stress

Ancient Greeks knew a way: after jumping off a high cliff into the sea, the grieving person would become so frightened that if s/he survived the jump, there was no trace of all his or her love pain.

I recommend attraction parks, especially things like “drop zone” or similar. Basically, anything that you were afraid to do. If you do it now, you may a) heal from your love pain and b) you will be so proud of what you finally were able to do!

13. Master some new kind of sport.

Especially extreme kinds of sport (diving, skydiving, windsurfing, surfing, downhill skiing, skateboarding). Equestrian sports are even better because of the animal touch (healing). But in general, everything extreme is good because you will feel afraid and, as a consequence, you will be extremely concentrated on the present moment. Hence no obsessive thoughts about your forsaken love affair.

Also recommended: photography, collecting, model building…

14. Don’t sit at home, go mingle

Firstly, because you were so in love, you may have reduced the frequency of communication or even lost some of your friends.

Secondly, if you feel stressed when meeting new people, this stress is manageable and it will be good for you (will take your mind off your breakup).

Thirdly, the more people you know, the more likely you are to meet somebody new.

People are likely to meet and fall in love with those whom they have met when studying, working, enjoying their hobbies and also through their friends and colleagues – a friend of a friend of a friend.

15. Undertake a short (up to one month), but interesting trip.

Maybe somewhere where you have always wanted to go, but could not. Now is the time!

Again, new impressions, new faces…

16. Don’t be afraid to turn to help if you are being stalked by your ex.

You never know what one can do when under stress, especially if one is under breakup stress…

17. Have your behaviour under control, don’t do anything stupid

A revenge, any nasty tricks will only prove to your ex that s/he was right to leave you.

Don’t become a laughing stock for others.

Also here: don’t do anything to find yourself behind bars for any reason.

18. If you believe psychics, you are welcome to turn to them

They are good psychologists and will tell you exactly that the breakup is for the good. And you will feel better now that you know that your breakup “was in the cards.”

19. No post breakup sex

Enough has been written on this subject everywhere. It will be so much harder to forget your ex, also because of all the hormones released.

20. Don’t try to remain friends with your ex

Friendship is ONLY possible IF both partners fell out of love with each other more or less at the same time.

Otherwise…

Normally, there is nothing to talk about.

This friendship will be ruined by jealousy of the one who is still in love.

21. Don’t follow your ex’s life story

Same idea as in many items above: it serves nothing, feeds your memory AND BESIDES that person is now a total stranger if you two as a couple don’t exist any more.

Remark: it is no coincidence that many people report not recognising their exes, as if the one they loved and their ex were two different people. They are, sort of. After the breakup (and sometimes long before it), the person whom you loved and who loved you is now dead.

22. Don’t blame the opposite gender in its entirety

Everybody is different, no generalising. Not every single person cheats, not everybody is a control freak, etc.

Also, your negative thoughts may programme you for the same negative results.

23. Don’t look for somebody who is just like your ex

Enough has been said on rebound relationships everywhere.

And no similarity in the physical appearance means that the rebound is a copy of your ex on the inside.

24. Don’t count on that your past experience will help you to make your next relationship successful

People are different. Conflicts in relationships are inevitable. Don’t forget to keep checking that you and your new partner are on the same page.

Don’t judge somebody new based on your old experience with your ex.

Don’t look for some hidden message where there is none.

26. Don’t rush into a relationship (or even worse – marriage!) only to demonstrate to your ex that you are all over him or her
27. Make new friends.

Basically, same as 14.

And it works wonders for one’s self-esteem even if it is nothing but friendship. Besides, you may get some valuable insights into your behaviour, manners, appearance, etc.

27. Work on your appearance

Something new to think about (the brain is busy), actions to take (such as go to a hairdresser), compliments as a result, growing self-esteem… And you will be seeing a new you in the mirror!

28. Do your homework as regards your previous relationship

There certainly were some unrealised expectations.

29. Decide what you want from your future relationship

Don’t be friends “just because.”

Check that you have the same expectations.

Try to be objective.

Try not to invest more than your partner. And as somebody else has said, if something is not given freely, it is not worth having.

If it doesn’t work within the first few months, part your ways – miracles hardly ever happen.

30. Don’t joke with love in the future.

The idea is that love (or, rather, the first stage, infatuation) is necessary to bring two people together so that they can form a partnership. If it doesn’t happen, if something is constantly being stalled, if somebody’s needs are not being met, love will eventually evaporate… Love must always be actively worked on by both parties, “maintained” if you will.

* * *

Basically, as you can see, it all boils down to

1. Taking care of oneself physically and psychologically (also, not losing hope to find lasting love), doing what one has always wanted to do
2. Behaving in a dignified manner
3. Creating a controlled stress environment and other distractions for the “monkey mind”
4. Meeting new people

I need to acknowledge that my breakup exacerbated what had seemed to be a long-lasting latent mild depression. Walking old places was terrible because I had walked them with the ex and walking new was impossible because I had wanted to go there (and, basically, do almost everything that I had in my plans) with my ex. When I realised that I had no desire to do anything, that everything that I had ever wanted to do now seemed bleak and lacking lustre, when I was becoming indifferent to that or that, I had to ask for some mild antidepressants.

They did help, but I tend to view them (it was a six-month course with the lowest dosage possible) as a final push towards recovery, recovery that would have been impossible without all that reading and ruminating and thinking.

I can compare it to the following. Imagine that you are flying up above in the sky and you see all the grass, trees, animals, rivers, etc. on the ground. You MUST be on the ground, you MUST be experiencing all those smells, touches, feelings ON THE GROUND, but you ABSOLUTELY CAN’T go lower, you are still soaring up above where nothing reaches you, no sound or smell or touch.

Antidepressants helped me to go down, to start being in the midst of what was happening to me below.

And one more lesson that I learnt – trust you gut. As I look back, I can see that my gut told me that something was wrong every single time when something was indeed wrong.

I guess it is only a matter of being really “balanced.” When you are “balanced” and your “centre of balance” is the correct one, you see people for who they really are and are attracted to and attract “correctly” balanced people. Similarly, if you “centre of balance” is distorted, you meet people with similarly distorted “centres,” but neither you nor they see it, because your distorted centres match.

Good luck to everybody!

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