As a Houston relationship counselor, I work to help couples stay together. I believe that sticking together and working through relationship issues is usually the best thing for most couples. But for some, this isn’t possible, and the break-up that follows can be tough.

Some people’s reaction to heartbreak is to shut out future possibilities. They believe that finding love is impossible for them, or they will never be able to trust anyone again. These strong feelings are natural in the beginning.  Your body is essentially going through a sort of withdrawal from the hormones associated with being in a long-term relationship, such as oxytocin which is associated with love, caring, sex, hugging, kissing, and other forms of touching.

But here’s the good news: your body will adjust. What you are feeling now will pass. Your broken heart will heal, and you will be able to fall in love again. From my experience as a Houston relationship counselor, I can tell you that you can make the grieving process easier by following these simple tips.

5 Tips for Curing a Breakup from a Houston Relationship Counselor

Get support from family and friends. You know that oxytocin you are missing? Get a little bit of it back by asking for a hug from a friend or snuggling with a family member.

Stay active. Introduce some new happy hormones in your system. Exercise releases endorphins, plus you’ll get in shape which will help your self-esteem.

Stay busy. If someone invites you out to the movies or a party, go! Even if you don’t feel like it. It will help keep your mind off of negative relationship thoughts.

Smile. It will increase your levels of serotonin and endorphins. Having a hard time turning that frown upside down? Indulge a little. Get a massage. Treat yourself to some ice cream. Whatever makes you happy.

Let go. If you are having trouble and feeling stuck on your old relationship, it can help to go to counseling. Even though your partner is not there, it can really help a lot to dialogue with a relationship specialist about what happened, try to understand the relationship issues you faced, and learn how you can move on. If you want to talk to someone, call our offices to talk to a qualified Houston relationship counselor.