What advice would you give to help someone heal after a long-term relationship breakup?

[Anonymous]

Most of my friends are either from one relationship to another or in long-term married or towards getting married relationships. I feel a bit, out of touch with their experience since given my life rhythm, choices and priorities I have been single for a time. I do have a social life, just not oriented towards having a partner.

I want to sympathize and be empathic toward one of my closest friends. Her ex-boyfriend broke up with her last year after 7 years and was engaged towards marrying her. I just met with her after this year of grief. She's sad, very much in pain. She expressed that she tends to cry alone and does shares with people how she felt, so her tears and emotions have been very repressed. I've been there, sending her messages, and open to listening and supporting her. Yet, at the same time internally I do acknowledge that there are no words that can leverage their suffering, being healing is a process that takes time. I have also let her know that I do trust that things get better, even after these hard suffering there are always learnings from these past experiences that can make her wiser, more human, and also empathic towards people.

In the future times, I'd love to help my friend with encouragement. For those who have had friends that were in traditional long-term relationships, and suddenly broke up, what you saw helped them heal or get towards a single happy life?

[Guy13]

NO LOOKING BACK !!! Sometimes, the best thing one can do post break-up is to throw herself into positive or things that demonstrate Accomplishment. Work is ideal... Reconnect with old friends and rebuild and advance those relationships. These two things can get one back onto steady footing. It goes without saying that BLOCK and no communication with EX is mandatory as all that does is further complicate and destroy opportunity to Grow. I found new relationship were helpful. www.meetup.com and both indoor and outdoor Soccer netted me new friend set too. I'm university scholarship player SO I also got a cute lady friend from Indoor as I am gently aggressive on pitch. No Looking Back !!! GOOD LUCK to your friend... she's fortunate to have you !!

[Avicenna]

It takes time to heal from things like this. She needs to distract herself as much as she can by spending time with friends and family, maybe taking up a new hobby. But she can't heal overnight.

[maximumpower]

Learn from it and, by all means, MOVE ON!