11 Relatable Stages Of Being Completely & Utterly Single That Women Go Through After A Breakup
We all go through them one way or another.
Unsplash By Brittany Christopoulos
Breakups suck, there’s no denying it! Even if you’re the one breaking up with someone, you still feel bad and go through your own time of mourning for the relationship.
Regardless of who broke up with who, there are a few specific stages of grief most women go through while getting over an ex after becoming single again.
And some of them definitely are not pretty.
Here are 11 common stages of grief single women experience while going through the grieving process and healing a broken heart.
1. The break up is new and you are not feeling it.
This is always the hardest stage because it’s the first. It’s a time where you just don’t give a care in the world about your ex or the relationship in general.
You may be emotionless or bitter, and that’s totally normal. But you’re just over everything.
2. You're riding on an emotional roller coaster.
Now that time has passed, it’s allowed you to reflect on some things. And with those memories comes an overabundance of emotions ranging from anger to regret to sadness and joy all at once.
Again, this stage varies for everyone.
3. You swear off dating.
You’ve decided that you cannot cry any longer so it’s time for you to move on and not let that negativity ruin your life. So you swear off dating because it’s just not worth it after what you’ve been through.
Unfortunately, it won’t last.
4. You enter the rebound phase.
You’ve been single for a while and it’s time to move on. Maybe the best way to get over someone is to get under another, or maybe it’s best to go back to an old fling to remind yourself you still got it.
Regardless, you get with someone new for a confidence boost (followed by the regret of giving yourself up while in a moment of weakness).
5. Now, you're super bored.
Having a significant other often means that you have someone to occupy all your spare time with. So the loneliness and boredom hit you really hard.
And conveniently, all your friends you still have left are busy so no one can occupy your time and your stuck thinking again (and probably crying too).
6. You download dating apps.
Because of your newfound boredom, you decide to download at least one dating app of some sort to occupy yourself and simply see what’s out there. You may get excited to see what’s changed in the dating world and to see what kind of matches you’ll get.
But don’t worry, that excitement won’t last for long because ...
7. You delete the dating apps you just downloaded ASAP.
Just as fast as you downloaded it you’ll delete it, because you realize what gross people walk on this earth and how disappointing it is.
“Send pics” or “dtf?” messages will come in your inbox as quickly as your matches wish to do to yours in real life and it’ll turn you off from dating again.
8. You begin relying on friends more than normal.
You may become clingy to your gal pals but you need someone to talk to or hang out with to help yourself from going crazy or just to see something different than your bedroom walls.
Your calendar will be full soon of fun plans and you’ll have a hard time finding time for yourself because of all the fun things you’re scheduled to do.
9. You then forget about dating.
Because you’re so busy at creating your new and improved life without your ex you’ll completely forget about dating. You become so happy with where you are and won’t want to change it.
When you do think about dating it’ll scare you, but then you move on and get ready to do something fun for yourself.
10. You become happy with being single.
At last, happiness. When you were beginning your life as a single woman you never thought you’d get this far but eventually, you will. You’ll be radiating of confidence, independence, and self-pride.
Some may be intimidated by your newfound life, but it just means they’re not happy with theirs and wish they could be as secure as you.
11. You want to date again because now you're truly ready.
Remember when you swore you were gonna stay single forever? Me too. It was short-lived, luckily, and you are ready to put yourself out there again. You may regret that decision a few times, but it won’t discourage you from dating.
There’s no shame in saying you’ve experienced any of these stages of grief. We all have.
Times of disappointment and loneliness are normal, just as finding moments of happiness again is inevitable.
The key is to stop thinking and start living. It may take a few months or years to get to that part, but you will. And it’ll prepare you for the next love of your life when you find them.
Brittany Christopoulos is a journalist who loves to volunteer, attend every boy band concert imaginable, and write. Follow her on Instagram.