In this guide, we will discuss how long does depression last after a breakup.

How long can depression last after a breakup?

You are asking yourself “How long can depression last after a breakup?”, well it depends.

Depression can last for as long as 6 months and even more after a breakup. It really all depends on the circumstances.

If it was a long term relationship then depression can usually last much longer than if it was a short term relationship.

It is very important to find a way to begin to manage your wellbeing after a breakup if not you could fall into a depression which in the end can make you isolate from friends and family. Yes, it is true.

No one is born prepared to go through a breakup, especially when we are bombarded on perfect happily ever after kind of romances or the tragic type where they do whatever it takes to be together.

Nobody wants to be depressed after a breakup and nobody wants depression to last long after a breakup but unfortunately, sometimes we cannot control the outcomes which we may face and depression can last an incredibly long time after a break up if we don’t begin to take control of our wellbeing.

It is very important to open up the curtains, interact with your friends and have an upbeat mentality after a breakup if not depression can begin to take a hold of you.

Don’t be scared or worried if you begin to feel depressed after a breakup and now you’re single.

You aren’t the first person who has wondered “how long does depression last after a breakup?”

It is a pretty common question people ask themselves when they go through a breakup.

Dealing with depression after a breakup is one of the hardest things to do because breaking with someone can be felt and experienced with so much pain and grief, almost the same as when someone really close to us dies.

Additionally, take into consideration that there are no two breakups that are the same.so everyone deals with pain in their own way and can take more or less time.

Therefore, a breakup is experienced by our brains with signs of massive withdrawal symptoms almost as if we were addicts on recovery from a “love drug”.

But the good news is that it won’t last forever. It is believed that the withdrawal symptoms and mourning the loss can take around 6 months.

However, as we discussed, some people can take actually a bit longer to recover.

This can be a heartbreaking time, and it can feel as if your world is falling apart.

But while sadness and a heightened emotional state are normal reactions after a breakup, it’s important to recognize the symptoms of depression.

It’s okay to grieve the loss of a relationship as you begin the healing process.

But this doesn’t suggest that every emotion you feel is a normal reaction. There are healthy and unhealthy symptoms of a breakup.

Knowing the differences between these symptoms can help you determine whether you’re experiencing depression.

Remember it is okay to feel sad during this difficult time, however, a breakup doesn’t mean you need to experience depression.

If you experience low moods for over 2 weeks, make sure you seek professional help.

You can seek professional help on the HFNE app, in the counseling section or speak to a trained friend.

What can I do to overcome my depression after a breakup?

According to Melania Hiken, M.A from HealthDay, “If, after two months, you feel as rotten as you did the first week you broke up, or if your mood is affecting your work or making it difficult to take care of yourself or your family, it’s a sign you may be suffering from a clinical depression.

In this case, you should consider consulting a psychologist, marriage and family therapist, or psychiatrist who can help you determine if you have a mood disorder that can be treated with therapy and/or antidepressant medications.”

Talking to a professional is advised when you don’t feel like talking ton family or friends about it because they simply don’t validate your feelings or don’t understand how you are feeling.

Let’s consider some tips on what you can do to overcome a breakup.

Exercise

Yes, we know. The last thing you want to do is move or in this case exercise, but this has a scientific reason.

Studies have shown that exercising for at least 30 mins a day, three times a week can lift your mood due to the released chemicals ( such as serotonin) by your brain.

You can exercise at home but try to get out of there even if you are just going to the park nearby.

Seek emotional support

Try avoiding isolating and shutting everyone out of your life.

According to Melanie Haiken, M.A, “Whether it’s your family, a formal support group for those going through a breakup or divorce, an informal network of sympathetic friends, a church or synagogue, reaching out to others is crucial in rebuilding your life. Schedule plenty of coffees and lunches with your supportive friends. If you haven’t made a new friend in a while, you can use the gym or your local bookstore to find companions.”

Be mindful of what you eat and drink

Everyone is different but one of the hallmarks of depression is changes in appetite in the form of loss of appetite or increased appetite, so you could either feel as not eating at all which in turn will make you lose weight or if you are under a lot of stress, cortisol gets released which explains why so many people engage in binge eating and gaining weight, some even with a higher risk of being obese.

If you are depressed you could be more prone to drinking alcohol, which will actually worsen your symptoms of depression.

Instead try to eat foods that maintain your energy levels, such as fruits and vegetables.

Natural remedies

These are believed to boost serotonin levels which can stabilize your mood. One example is omega-3 essential fatty acids.

They can be found in fishes like salmon, seafood, fish oil or flaxseed oil, and play an important role in healthy brain functioning, having a mitigating or preventive effect on depression and bipolar disorder.

There are other supplements such as magnesium, vitamin B, vitamin D, St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), SAMe, 5-HTP, among others.

Before you consider taking any of these consult with your doctor.

Change your routine

Gradually you may start to feel better and motivated to make changes to your routine.

Consider taking yoga classes or meditation, or any other activity you may have been postponing but you always wanted to such as cooking classes, painting, reading, etc.

Why is this blog about “how long does depression last after a breakup?”, important?

We all have gone through painful breakups, some of us more than one time. However, every time it should get easier than the last.

However, you will never get used to it and every breakup can be experienced in a different way.

Feeling pain, grief, hopelessness, loneliness, among other feelings, are very normal to a breakup.

But, what we decide to do with them makes the difference.

As we attempted to answer the question “How long does depression last after a breakup?” and we actually have what it takes approximately 6 months before you start healing, however, depending on the person it can take longer than that.

Here we added a few tips to overcome depression after a breakup but take your time to heal and if you feel it is too overwhelming or you have suicidal thoughts get in contact with a mental health professional.

Please feel free to comment in the comments section below!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about “How long does depression last after a breakup?”

How long does a breakup last?

How long a breakup lasts varies in time. According to Amanda Chantel from bustle.com, “We all spend an average of 18 months of our lives getting over a breakup.

These 18 months are based on three major breakups and the six months, on average, it takes to recoup from them.”

Will the pain of a breakup go away?

The pain will go away when you start to heal.

The pain can be unbearable and actually can be felt physically and not only emotionally, however, but it also tends to diminish with time.

How do I stop hurting after a break up?

To stop hurting after a break up you can try the following:

– Get support from friends and family.

– If you Don’t feels like trusting someone your emotions and your thoughts, try keeping a journal and write them down.

– Forgive yourself for anything that happened

– Stay active and exercise

– Learn how to comfort yourself

– Avoid the self-criticism

– Set the boundaries

How do you overcome a break up?

To overcome a break up you can:

– Distract yourself and stay busy, find a hobby or activity that occupies the most of your time

– There is no shame in getting emotional, so cry if you have to

– Try rewarding yourself

– Try to avoid social withdrawal

– Take the time to better yourself

– Cut any form or source of contact

– Get rid of anything that can remind you of him/her

– Realize being single is not a bad thing, try doing things on your own, alone or try doing those things you couldn’t do because your partner didn’t want you to

– Get over it

How do you know if your ex will come back?

Your ex may be thinking of coming back if they:

– Keep in contact through calls or texts

– They open up on the idea of getting back together

– They ask if you are currently dating someone else

– They will act jealous if you tell them you are starting to go out or if you tell them you have met someone else

– They will make sure to let you know about their relationship status

– They will talk about the past and it will sound as if they are missing those moments with you

How long does it take to get over a breakup?

How long does it take to get over a breakup will vary because every relationship is different, so is every breakup.

However, studies suggest that individuals should start getting over the breakup around three-months after ending the relationship.

Others consider the amount of time will depend on how long the relationship lasted.

References

Bustle.com: How Long Does It Take To Get Over Someone? The Average Person Spends 18 Months Recovering From A Breakup

Elitedaily.com: How Long Do You Feel Sad After A Breakup? Here’s What Experts Say To Expect

Huffpost.com

Consumer.healthday.com: Depression After a Breakup

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How long does depression last after a breakup?