{"189411":{"#nid":"189411","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Surviving a Breakup: Tips for Coping","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EValentine\u2019s Day is just around the corner, and many couples choose to spend the day celebrating their relationship. However, this time of year can be very painful for those who have recently broken up with their significant other. Breaking up is a difficult experience for most, and it can be even more challenging for a college student who is also under academic stress. It is difficult for any parent to see their child suffering with pain and sadness. I\u2019ve had many parents ask me how to help their child cope with these feelings of loss, and how identify the signs that their child\u2019s grief has become something of greater concern.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEveryone grieves differently. But in general, after the end of a relationship, your child might feel a range of emotions including sadness, numbness, shock, denial, or anger. It is not uncommon for the grieving person to temporarily shut down and withdraw from others. Crying, difficulty sleeping, lack of appetite and low energy are common responses to a significant loss. Some coping strategies to pass along to your child include:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat to do:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETake care of your basic physical needs. This includes remembering to eat, getting plenty of fluids, and getting adequate rest (without spending the entire day in bed).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETry to return to your normal schedule as quickly as possible. It is comforting to re-engage in a routine.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EHit the gym. Exercise results in an immediate mood lift, provides energy, and gives one a sense of accomplishment and well-being.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESurround yourself with supportive others (friends, family).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EGive yourself permission to grieve. It is natural to feel a range of emotions and it is important not to suppress them. Talking to others or journaling are two outlets for emotional expression. At times, however, your emotions may feel overwhelming and may need to be contained. It is okay to escape these painful emotions for awhile by immersing yourself in a good book, movie, or any other enjoyable distraction. Over time, these emotions will lessen in intensity.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ERecall your life prior to this particular relationship. Consider returning to activities or hobbies that you may have neglected while you were in the relationship.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat to avoid:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDon\u2019t rely on alcohol or drugs. You may feel better temporarily but this type of self-medication may delay the grieving process and increase negative feelings.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAvoid contact with your ex-partner during the healing process. This could cause you to undo progress that you have made by potentially reactivating the pain.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDon\u2019t idealize the relationship or expose yourself to things that evoke sad memories (such as listening to a song that reminds you of your ex).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAvoid jumping into another relationship. Take the opportunity to gain confidence in your abilities to function as a single, independent person.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EReflect on what you\u2019ve learned about yourself and what changes you might make in your next relationship.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat parents can do:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBe available but don\u2019t force your child to talk if they are uncomfortable doing so.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIf your child decides to reach out to you for support, don\u2019t try to immediately cheer them up or \u201cfix\u201d the problem, and instead just listen and be empathic.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EEncourage them to be around others, such as close friends or family members. Social support is a protective factor against depression.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt is normal to experience depressive symptoms following a breakup, but if these symptoms continue (typically beyond two months) this may be cause for concern. How do you know if your child has become depressed and needs professional help? The best way to tell if grief has turned into depression is to examine your child\u2019s level of functioning. For example, is your child getting out of bed in the morning? Is he or she going to class? Is your child maintaining his or her grades? Is your child continuing to participate in their typical activities such as sports, exercise, clubs, hobbies? Is your child still communicating with you and his or her friends? Is your child maintaining his or her physical health and appearance?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBelow are some of the symptoms which may indicate clinical depression:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EChanges in sleep, appetite or weight\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETearfulness\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EHelpless or hopeless feelings\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EFeeling worthless\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESad or empty feelings\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ELoss of energy\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ELack of interest in previously enjoyed activities\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDifficulty concentrating\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThoughts of self harm\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou can help your child recover from a break-up by providing them with coping techniques. These strategies will increase the likelihood of a more rapid return to normal functioning and emotional stability.\u0026nbsp; Additionally, he or she will be less likely to develop longer-term depressive symptoms.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EParents and students are encouraged to contact the Georgia Tech Counseling Center for additional help. The Counseling Center is located on the second floor of the Student Services Building (Flag Building) and is open each day from 8 a.m. \u2013 5 p.m. The Counseling Center offers free consultations, as well as individual, couples and group counseling for enrolled Georgia Tech students. Additionally, we offer seminars and workshops on a variety of topics (stress management, time management, healthy relationships, depression and anxiety) throughout the semester. A schedule of dates and times can be found at \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.counseling.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ewww.counseling.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E. Students and parents can call our office for more information at 404-894-2575.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EValentine\u2019s Day is just around the corner, and many couples choose to spend the day celebrating their relationship.\u0026nbsp; However, this time of year can be very painful for those who have recently broken up with their significant other.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":"","uid":"27164","created_gmt":"2013-02-04 13:04:46","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:13:33","author":"Rachael Pocklington","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2013-02-04T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2013-02-04T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"related_links":[{"url":"http:\/\/studentaffairs.gatech.edu\/","title":"Division of Student Affairs"},{"url":"http:\/\/counseling.gatech.edu\/","title":"Counseling Center"}],"groups":[{"id":"1298","name":"Parent and Family Programs"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"9129","name":"coping"},{"id":"1763","name":"counseling"},{"id":"9024","name":"depression"},{"id":"4291","name":"relationship"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EDr. Irene E. Dalton\u003Cbr \/\u003EStaff Psychologist, Counseling Center\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:irene.dalton@vpss.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eirene.dalton@vpss.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["parents@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}