20 Tips for Mending a Broken Heart Quickly and Effectively

Last Updated on December 29, 2022 by Rebecca Huff

Breaking up is never easy and can leave you feeling brokenhearted. But there are things you can do to help yourself heal and move past your pain. From spending time with friends and family to seeking professional counseling, these 20 tips will help you mend a broken heart.

Emotional upheaval and heartbreak can be caused by various situations, such as the end of a romance, the death of a loved one, a wayward child, or the betrayal of a friend. Whatever the cause, emotional outbursts, such as crying your eyes out or a heated argument, can take it out of you.

A broken heart is very similar to grief. Shock, denial, anger, bargaining, guilt, depression, and acceptance are the seven stages of grief that most of us go through when dealing with grief or heartache. The more often you let it go, the faster you will work through your grief.

It takes a severe toll on my body when I find myself amid heartbreak in any form. Those of you who live with chronic illness may understand what I mean when I say that it is contagious when my heart is broken. The rest of my body becomes infected with heartbreak as well.

My entire body feels heavy, my muscles ache, my eyes burn, and my energy stores are depleted. All my willpower is needed to keep myself from just going to bed in the middle of the day. Sound familiar? If so, read on for practical suggestions that will help you recover quicker.

1 Let it go – release the tears

First, if you're holding back, go ahead and cry it out. You'll release As I sometimes say to myself when I am about to burst into tears, “release the Kraken!” haha, I say this so much that my 10-year-old daughter finally looked it up to see what a Kraken was.

Crying detoxifies the body. Believe it or not, emotional tears contain stress hormones and other toxins. So release them! You don't want to keep all those stressy-toxins inside yourself.

Crying also releases oxytocin, an endorphin that helps ease physical and emotional pain. This is why it's best to just get it out of your system and also why we need to refrain from telling others, “don't cry.”

Crying can improve your mood since sobbing brings in cooler air which helps to regulate your brain temperature. Emotional balance is restored in part, by the release of tears. So go ahead, “Release the Kraken!”

2 when Healing a Broken Heart, Start with your Head

I mean support brain function with essential fatty acids such as walnuts, flaxseeds, or even a supplemental EPA/DHA or Krill oil. Check with your doctor before supplementing with any fish oil as it can act as a blood thinner.

Magnesium is a super supplement for helping to calm and soothe the heartbroken. When emotional distress keeps you from getting a good night's sleep, turn to Magnesium first. Taking Magnesium in combination with Calcium…

3 Get back your energy

Folate and Vitamin B12 work together to benefit our nervous system. Taking these two nutrients together can support your time healing. If I am emotionally imbalanced, I reach for a good B complex that contains these two nutrients. Besides, a Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to depression and fatigue.

Vitamin D with K2 is a key nutrient for our immune system support as well as the nervous system. Depression can often be traced back to low Vitamin D levels. So make sure to keep your levels in check. My doctor checks my vitamin D levels at least twice per year.

Ginger can really help if your broken heart or crying too much has caused you to feel nauseated. The immune-boosting power of ginger can also help to keep you from getting sick when stress kicks your immune system down a notch.

Lavender can help to suppress the impact of pathogens headed to cause disaster. Diffusing lavender essential oil can help alleviate worry and relax the nervous system. This is especially useful when emotional distress causes one to lose appetite.

Lemon Balm can help the heartbroken get much-needed sleep when nervous tension is causing insomnia.

Skullcap has the unique ability to keep us from overthinking a situation. When we experience heartache, it is common to ruminate on what we could have done differently; however, this prolongs the healing process. Overthinking keeps us from focusing on other aspects of our lives that need our attention.

4 Try to Avoid the Urge to Eat Your Emotions

Stuff your emotions with food that is bad for you. Processed foods and sugar-laden treats can worsen feelings of fatigue and depression. Even if you don't feel like it, feed yourself healthy food. Yes, eating some comfort foods is okay; just avoid the temptation to do it nonstop the entire time you are healing.

Part of self-care is paying attention to your mental health. Giving up on your healthy goals just to let go and eat things you believe to be bad for your health isn't worth the momentary relief.

Practice self-love by “treating” yourself to a healthy juice, smoothie or salad and then pat yourself on the back for your ability to move forward. Caring for yourself during a hard time will get you one step closer to getting through the grieving process. It will also leave you healthier for future relationships. 

I know you don't want to think about that right now and you don't have to. Still, any psychotherapist worth their degree will encourage you to recover, leaving the possibility for future romantic relationships open. 

5 Soothe Your Emotions 

Acupuncture can help cope with pain, stress, and inflammation. If you've never tried Traditional Chinese Medicine, it might help to research the benefits. 

Tai Chi and QiGong are both very beneficial for helping to balance the mood and calm emotions. 

6 Laugh Your Ass Off

Laughter is so healing, so watch a hilarious stand-up comedian or a funny movie. Do whatever it takes to get yourself to chuckle, at the very least, to crack a smile.

7 Seek help from relationship experts

A psychotherapist will help you get through the pain of a breakup by sorting your emotions. You may want to join a support group. 

Reaching out to family members during this time can help heal your broken heart. Make sure that your support system is made up of people you can genuinely trust during a difficult time.

You may want to skip social media for a time while you focus on your own needs. 

Talk Therapy – Seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist can be helpful when it comes to dealing with heartache. It is so impactful to get your thoughts together and share them with someone who will not judge you.

8 Move Your Body

Exercise – Many people going through a heartbreaking experience find relief in exercise. Countless women (and men) discover the gym is fantastic for releasing anger and frustration! Try martial arts, such as Taekwondo as well.

9 Change Your Environment

Take a mini vacation, even if only for a day or two, just to gain a refreshing change of scenery. Changing your environment can also help simply because it breaks up the monotony of what you've already been dealing with and gives your brain another distraction. This is especially beneficial if you are dealing with a romantic breakup. Eat at new places, try different foods, mix things up as much as possible.

10 Redesign Your Life

Design the life you love. Create a timeline of events, goals, and experiences you want to have and make plans to accomplish them individually.

Creating new routines, starting new hobbies, and focusing on personal growth can help you mend a broken heart. While it is good to process your emotions, it’s not good to dwell on them. A life rethink may help by distracting you towards more positive activities.

11 Believe in yourself

Bring your dreams back to life. Did you dream of opening a cat cafe or a beauty boutique? Why not use your pain to fuel your dreams? As you heal, pay attention to the little reminders of your hopes and dreams from the past. Use this time to discover yourself again.

12 Understand that it is normal to feel pain after a breakup

It's normal to have strong feelings after a breakup; it can take time to process and heal. Allow yourself to feel whatever you're feeling, and remind yourself that your emotions will likely improve with time. 

Talk to friends or family members who have experienced something similar if you need extra help or support in understanding and accepting your feelings.

13 Participate in activities that make you feel good

It's essential to find activities and hobbies that bring you joy. Whether it is reading a book, going for a hike, or participating in your favorite team sport, many things can lift our moods and help us to break out of the cycle of sadness caused by a broken heart. Make it part of your emotional healing to invest your time in activities that make you feel good.

14 Don’t be too hard on yourself during the healing process

Remember that everyone heals in their own time, and there’s no set timeline for getting over a broken heart. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you feel overwhelmed or can’t seem to “get over it” as quickly as others think you should. Focus on allowing yourself to heal in the best way possible by leaning into the emotions and taking each day one step at a time.

15 Avoid making any important decisions while still in emotional distress

It can be challenging to think clearly or make rational decisions when your heart is broken. It’s essential to avoid making rash decisions while you’re still grieving and trying to mend your broken heart. 

Discuss your thoughts with a close friend or family member that you trust or consider seeking professional help if needed.

16 Subscribe to Uplifting Podcasts

There are so many excellent podcasts available for free on various subjects. You can listen to advice on how others deal with the end of a relationship or go a completely different route. 

Dive into a history podcast or tips on becoming an entrepreneur or any subject that suits your taste. Explore subjects outside your usual genre to get your brain headed in a new direction.

17 Grab Your Best Friend and Take a Trip

If your budget allows, why not book a trip to a place you’ve always wanted to visit? 

Not sure you could spend a week being upbeat for your best friend? Take a page from Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love, and travel alone! Head to New York to do some sightseeing! 

18 Rethink Sharing Post-Breakup Emotions On Social

While it may be tempting to vent on social about your breakup, it might not be the best time to do so. Especially if you’re doing it hoping to win the sympathy of your ex-partner. 

19 Write Down Your Thoughts and Feelings

Now is the time to spill your emotions on paper. Once you’ve got it all out, you can burn, bury, or shred the paper if you’d rather not share your heartbreak with others.

20 Continue to Surround yourself with supportive people.

Surrounding yourself with supportive people can be very helpful after a breakup. Find friends and family members who are patient, understanding, and willing to listen to you talk through your feelings. Allow their support and love to help carry you through difficult times. Don't underestimate the power of having someone who will lend an ear when you need it most.

If you’ve never been part of a community, find one. Whether it be a church, a clean-up group, or even a book club. Join a community and be faithful to attending the meetings.

Conclusion

Eventually, whether it takes weeks, months, or years, our broken hearts do mend. Keep reminding yourself that “this too shall pass.” 

Focus on your well-being and heal any emotional wounds from the past. In my experience, I believe if I'd taken the time to focus on both mind and body wellness, I might have avoided some of my heartbreak in the first place. 

However, looking back with regret can only be as valuable as the lessons you learn from the past. Don't dwell on it without working on the emotional healing process.