Breakups are rough. They can throw your life into complete turmoil, and it’s important to acknowledge how difficult they can be. Losing a romantic relationship is like losing one of the most important people in your life. The emotional pain can feel as intense as grieving the death of a loved one.
That’s why understanding the emotional process you’re going through is so important. One helpful way to think about it is through the lens of grief.
You’ve probably heard of the stages of grief. The most famous model comes from Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, who originally developed it to describe how people cope with their own terminal illness. But the grief model can also be a helpful framework for understanding what happens when a relationship ends. In this article, we’ll be looking at the 7 stages of breakup.
These stages are: Ambivalence, Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance, and Growth. It’s important to remember that everyone experiences these stages differently. You might not go through them in order, you might skip some, and you might revisit others. It’s not a linear path.
The goal of this article is to provide a comprehensive guide to navigating these 7 stages of breakup. Remember to be kind to yourself during this difficult time, and don’t hesitate to reach out for support from friends, family, or a therapist.