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	<title>Better Relationships &#187; GRIEF &amp; LOSS</title>
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	<link>https://www.better-relationships.com</link>
	<description>Marriage &#38; Couples Counseling, Psychotherapy, Premarital Counseling</description>
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		<title>Growth During Crisis</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/growth-during-crisis/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/growth-during-crisis/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2020 21:35:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Anxiety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COMMUNICATION]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CONFLICT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Crisis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DEPRESSION]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Divorce]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GRIEF & LOSS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PARENTING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIPS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[anxiety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[change. sudden change]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dealing with crisis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[elderly]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fear]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[isolation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[suicide]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.better-relationships.com/?p=4375</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[For many of us, life as we know it is or soon will be gone, be it socially, professionally or personally. Being aware of and expressing our thoughts and feelings during this crisis is important to our mental and emotional health.  Sudden change often creates anxiety. To help reduce your stress, focus on what you can control; add structure to routines; develop near-term plans (i.e., days or one week out); avoid obsessively watching the news; and talk about your feelings with friends and family. One quick way to calm yourself and stay in the present moment is to do a simple grounding exercise. Pick up an object and concentrate on its weight, shape, color, texture and scent. You can also learn relaxation techniques like mindfulness and meditation through free online apps and eBooks specific to anxiety. Helpful websites include anxiety.org and www.adaa.org. Feelings of grief and loss are also normal. Grief may come out of nowhere, completely consuming you. But you can have some control over your response. For example, you can schedule a specific time for grieving. Then when it strikes, tell yourself “Not now, later.” Then at the specified time allow yourself to grieve. Free online apps and eBooks related to grieving and depression are available. For additional resources go to griefcounselor.org, nami.org and nihm.nih.gov. People who we thought were strong may need our help and emotional support. For example, trauma victims and those with mental illness already have compromised emotional and psychological resources. Additional stress may weaken their existing coping capacity and lead to more symptoms. The effects on children of long-term school closures, social isolation and daily interaction with parents who are now their teachers are unknown, meaning they may also need support. Under stress, it’s normal for kids to regress and act younger.  Once parents determine and address what’s wrong, normal behavior usually returns. Extra reassurance and encouragement are vital to a child’s emotional well-being. One way for parents to help their children feel valuable is to ask what they’re learning at home, from them, about relationships. Resources for helping children include kidsmentalhealth.org and acmh-mi.org. Loving relationships [&#8230;]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Resilient Personality – Coping with Chaos and Hardship</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/the-resilient-personality-coping-with-chaos-and-hardship/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/the-resilient-personality-coping-with-chaos-and-hardship/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2020 18:35:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Anxiety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Crisis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DEPRESSION]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Divorce]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GRIEF & LOSS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[INFIDELITY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIPS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[chaos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[grief and loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hardship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[infidelity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[job loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[resilience]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[trauma]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.better-relationships.com/?p=4367</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”                                                                                                – Ralph Waldo Emerson All of us experience major disruptions at certain points in our lives. In fact, this is an expected and predictable hallmark of the human condition. For some, these hard times come frequently – the impact of the trauma is overwhelming and recovery, if it comes at all, can be painfully slow. Others show resilience and are able to glide through these times fairly easily, bouncing back to a normal life again quickly. Resilience – the strength required to adapt to chaos and hardship – lies at the heart of mental and emotional health. Those who have been emotionally, sexually, and physically abused as children, as well as those who have grown up with learning disabilities and attention deficit disorders share  many of the common characteristics of those who have endured traumas later in life, such as war, the loss of a loved one, natural disasters, financial catastrophes, or a major illness. Normal Life Disruption vs. Trauma What has been most interesting in these studies is the finding that some traumatized people – both those with childhood abuse and other challenges, as well as those who experienced life disruptions in adulthood – suffer virtually no ill effects from the trauma. In fact, in many cases they seem to have grown stronger and led more integrated lives. This unexpected finding has guided researchers to explore the nature of resilience. The normal life cycle contains predictable periods of life disruption. For example, when we move from childhood to adolescence, everything we knew about the world goes through a jarring transformation. During this period of life disorganization, our bodies go through tremendous hormonal and developmental changes, our definitions of other people change, our motives and interests change, we learn how to define ourselves as individuals with autonomy, and we expand our range of social relationships. Similar stages of disruption occur when the adolescent moves into young adulthood, and then into a permanent relationship, possible parenting, middle age, and then retirement and [&#8230;]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Pets and Emotional Wellness</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/pets-and-emotional-wellness/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/pets-and-emotional-wellness/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Apr 2019 01:15:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[DEPRESSION]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GRIEF & LOSS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIPS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[attachement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[coping with grief]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[grieving]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mourning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pet loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pets and health]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.better-relationships.com/?p=4293</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[What a revolutionary breakthrough it would be if we found a way to lower blood pressure, lessen the ravages of depression, boost our immune systems, enhance our sense of emotional well being, decrease our feelings of loneliness, increase motivation, elevate our self-image, and promote our ability to trust! These are only some of the benefits of pet ownership. Under most circumstances, having a pet is a healthy and healing experience. Since ancient times pets have been part of the human experience. Early contacts between humans and dogs benefited both species. The dogs were fed scraps of food, bones and other leftovers, until they developed a dependent relationship with humans. Then, in turn, the dogs served as guards, warning humans of intruders approaching their encampments. Today an estimated 50 million households have pets. In addition to 120 million pet dogs and cats, people make pets of birds, fish, rabbits, hamsters, as well as a variety of exotic pets, including pigs and reptiles. With the decrease in attachment bonds in our society over the last several decades, we have seen increases in depression, loneliness, lack of trust, and a heightened sense of vulnerability. People don’t feel the closeness, the sense of social engagement, and the intimacy with others that they experienced in the past – when people were more likely to live in the same community throughout their lives, when communication was more personal, when travel was not as widely available. The role played by pets in our lives is likely to become more significant within this context since pets can serve as substitute sources of attachment. Pets can compensate for some of the losses we feel in an increasingly impersonal era. Emotional Attachment Pets are an important source of emotional attachment that can be as significant as, and sometimes even stronger than, the bonds formed between people. The purpose of attachment, according to developmental theory, is to form an affectionate bond and to provide a sense of safety and security. These needs, which emerge early in one’s life, are directed toward a few specific people and tend to endure throughout one’s [&#8230;]]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Losing Your Relationship  &#8211; Aftermath of Divorce</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/losing-your-relationship-understanding-the-after-effects/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/losing-your-relationship-understanding-the-after-effects/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jan 2019 02:31:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Divorce]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GRIEF & LOSS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIPS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[anger]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[divorce]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[friends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[grief and loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[loneliness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marraige counseling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marriage]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.better-relationships.com/?p=4239</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Most divorcing people are forced to come to terms with a number of fears. What will people say? Who can I trust to talk to? How can I handle my partner&#8217;s anger toward me? How do I deal with my own anger? Am I a complete failure? How can I be a single parent? Will I be able to keep my children? What about money? Can I do the banking and buy groceries and pay bills and fix the car? Can I handle my loneliness? Am I completely unlovable? Will I ever love anyone else again? Do I have the energy for this much change? When we hold on to our fears and refuse to do anything about them, we increase the likelihood that these will be the very areas where we experience trouble. Loneliness The loneliness one experiences at the time of divorce can feel immeasurable. The finality of the marriage, the uncertainty about the future, and the knowledge that your partner will no longer be there to comfort you or to spend time with you, can all contribute to an empty feeling that will not go away. The clue is to change loneliness to aloneness, to change the emptiness to a feeling of peace, contentment, and fulfillment. Looking into oneself and liking what one sees is a key to making the shift to aloneness. (Get into being alone. It is a precious but tenuous gift that can disappear far too quickly from one&#8217;s life.) Friendship Divorce is a true test of just who your real friends are. It is important to draw on the emotional support of friends during a divorce. Unfortunately, many of your friends were those who knew you as a couple and they often must choose between you. Even those who try to stay neutral find it difficult. Many may feel that your divorce somehow threatens their own marriages and some friends may now find it difficult to relate to you as a single person. Not only that, but you may find it difficult to trust others during a divorce. Getting out, feeling free, and [&#8230;]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>When Depression Is More Than Sadness! – 7 Other Tell-Tale Signs</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/when-depression-is-more-than-sadness-7-other-tell-tale-signs/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/when-depression-is-more-than-sadness-7-other-tell-tale-signs/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 Dec 2018 23:32:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[COMMUNICATION]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GRIEF & LOSS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIPS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irritatable]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[loneliness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sadness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self care]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.better-relationships.com/?p=4213</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We don’t always have the full range of words to explain what we are going through. For example, we might say that we feel sad. Yet, in fact, we might have clinical depression and not even realize it. Alternatively, we might recognize depression in someone else who insists that they are “just sad.” Honestly, it can be hard sometimes to tell the difference. Sadness is a regular, temporary, human emotion. Depression, in contrast, is a mental health condition. Usually, it requires some kind of dedicated treatment before the condition will improve. Here are seven key differences between sadness and depression. 1. The Cause for Sadness or Low Mood One key difference between sadness and depression is whether or not something provokes the emotion. We feel sadness in response to something. For example, a breakup causes people to feel sad. In contrast, depression doesn’t have a specific cause. We can sometimes point to reasons, finding a cause. However, when the mood doesn’t lift, we see that’s not the real reason. Something underlying it all is at the root. If we can’t find a concrete cause for feeling blue, then we need to consider that it might be depression. 2. Sadness Doesn’t Leach Away Interest When we are sad, we might want to skip a few activities. For example, we might not feel like keeping a standing Saturday night date with friends. However, we don’t lose all interest in everything. We quickly back bounce and enjoy the same activities as always. In contrast, depression eats away at all interests. In depression, we lose desire or motivation to do the things that we used to enjoy. Nothing feels pleasurable anymore. We don’t want to see people we used to like or go to events that we previously thought were fun. 3. Sadness Isn’t Irritable Sadness can make us feel more sensitive. However, it doesn’t tend to cause major mood changes. If you feel especially irritable, then you might have depression. Other similar signs include: Feeling easily frustrated Impatience Outbursts of anger Quicker than usual to feel overwhelmed Slower than usual to “bounce back” from [&#8230;]]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Yes, Sexual Betrayal Can Lead to These PTSD Symptoms!</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/yes-sexual-betrayal-can-lead-to-these-ptsd-symptoms/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/yes-sexual-betrayal-can-lead-to-these-ptsd-symptoms/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 11 Jun 2018 19:30:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[CONFLICT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COUPLES THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GRIEF & LOSS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[INFIDELITY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cheating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[infidelity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PTSD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sexual betrayal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sexual trauma]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[trust]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.better-relationships.com/?p=4111</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#160; Love is war. So the saying goes goes . That comparison may actually be fitting in connection with something you perhaps haven’t thought of—trauma. It’s no secret that sexual infidelity can be physically harmful and emotionally crushing. A betrayed partner may feel a whole range of devastating emotions and experiences a bewildering variety of bodily symptoms. One moment they feel angry and irritated, the next as if living in a daze where nothing matters. They can’t sleep, they can’t eat. It’s as if they’ve gone crazy. It’s a reaction to the trauma of betrayal. And it’s a very natural response when one feels unsafe and insecure in a relationship. In fact, studies have shown that those who have been sexually betrayed by their partner can suffer such devastating emotional turmoil that they display trauma symptoms very similar to those of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Why? Because the magnitude of a sexual betrayal can be enormous. Like an earthquake, this form of cheating shakes the very foundations of trust within a relationship. The PTSD Symptoms of Sexual Betrayal Consider some of the aftershocks of that blow. 1. Irritability, Rage, and Despair The initial anger and rage over the betrayal often give way to frequent and extreme mood swings. From rapid shifts between rage, hurt, sadness, and hopefulness to excessive emotional outbursts and breaking down in tears. The reactions are usually this intense because it wasn’t just anyone that hurt the victim. They have been betrayed by the person they thought they could count on the most. It’s no wonder that being traumatized in this way causes an enormous range of pain. 2. Avoidance, Feelings of Emptiness, and Emotional Numbness Emotional numbness often follows rage, irritability, and despair. Everything feels hollow and unappealing. Things the victim formerly enjoyed don’t bring them pleasure anymore. Feeling empty and yet feeling a flood emotions, they’ll avoid any reminders of the betrayal, trying to forget the terrible pain. And eventually, they may even withdraw from friends and family, isolating themselves to hide from the emotional upheaval that they can’t control. 3. Flashbacks, Nightmares, and Painful [&#8230;]]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Extreme Grief After a Job Loss Is Real – Look for These Symptoms</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/extreme-grief-after-a-job-loss-is-real-look-for-these-symptoms/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/extreme-grief-after-a-job-loss-is-real-look-for-these-symptoms/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 01 Mar 2018 01:54:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Career]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GRIEF & LOSS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[career change]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[career counseling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[grief and loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[job loss]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.better-relationships.com/?p=3943</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Losing your job hurts—plain and simple. For some, it&#8217;s devastating. Not only can it hurt your financial welfare, it can cause emotional pain and suffering. Depending on your reactions to this crisis, it can severely impact your relationships with family and friends. In fact, for some people a job loss is similar to hearing about the death of a loved one. And there are reasons why you may feel this loss so deeply. It’s a common practice in much of today’s society to place our identity in our job and in our career. For example, you may have based your self-worth and self-esteem on your job responsibilities, or on your coworkers’ respect for you, or on your job title, or your workplace relationships, and losing any of these can mean losing part or all of your personal identity. The grief that follows a job loss is a natural and very real. Like most significant losses, the side effects can be painful and often happen unexpectedly. But there is a way through this loss that can create growth and healthy changes. Let’s look at how this might happen and what steps to take going forward. Denial of Job Loss The days and weeks after a job loss can be the most difficult. Being in a state of shock is typical. Many people report not being able to find their way home after hearing that they’ve been terminated. Some try to escape from this shock by denying the painful feelings of loss. For example, you may try to pretend that life goes on as usual. Despite no longer having an income, you carry on as though nothing happened. Or, when people ask you how you are, you say that you’ve never been better. But it’s all a facade—a brave but futile attempt to conceal how you’re really feeling. Avoidance of Social Situations When someone loses a job, others are naturally concerned for them. For example, people may ask you about your plans for the future or try to assure you that you’ll quickly find a better job. While they have good intentions, [&#8230;]]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Coping with Grief and Loss</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/some-thoughts-on-grieving/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/some-thoughts-on-grieving/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 26 Oct 2016 19:46:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[GRIEF & LOSS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[coping with grief]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[death]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[grief]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[grief counseling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[grieving]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mourning]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.better-relationships.com/?p=3334</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Our ability to grieve and adapt to the loss of a loved one is an important feature in the course of our lives. Change can stimulate growth. Loss can give rise to gain. If we do not grieve the loss, it can drain us of energy and interfere with our living fully in the present. If we do not mourn, we may spend our lives under the spell of old issues and past relationships and failing to connect with experiences in the present. It is during the time of grieving that many people begin grief counseling with a professional therapist since they are likely better prepared than most to empathize with you and guide you through your journey of grief. Affirmations for Grief When you grieve, remember that: Losses are a fact of life. Every relationship is only temporary. I need to be aware as possible of what is happening. I will not always feel the way I do now. My loved one would want me to get on with life again. Tears are a sign of strength. I am willing to give this all the time it takes I need to do a lot of talking and crying – as much as it takes. My loved one’s departure allows me to find out more about who I am. My life has been disrupted, and now I will work to get it back on track again. My grieving is my own – I, and not others will determine what form it takes. Nobody else can take this life journey from me. I will be happy again.  “Give sorrow words: the grief that does not speak whispers the o’er-fraught heart and bids it break”  - William Shakespeare (Macbeth, Act IV, Scene 3) Recommended Reading: “How To Go On Living When Someone You Love Dies” by Therese A. Rando Helpful Website: WebMD.com Please call me at 949-760-7171 or text 949-244-8572 with any questions or email me at jimswaniger@gmail.com to schedule an appointment. Click here for an overview of my book &#8220;Building Better Relationships &#8211; A Guidebook for Men.&#8221;]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Recovery From a Breakup</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/after-a-breakup/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/after-a-breakup/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 Oct 2016 22:25:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[GRIEF & LOSS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIPS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[breakup]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[coping with a breakup]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ending a relationship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[loneliness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[losing your relationship]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.better-relationships.com/?p=3195</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Most couples who end their long term relations are forced to come to terms with a number of fears. &#8220;What will people say? Who can I trust to talk to? How can I handle my partner’s anger toward me? How can I deal with my own anger? Am I a complete failure? How can I be a single parent? Will I be able to keep my children? What about money? Can I handle my loneliness? Am I completely unlovable? Will I ever love anyone else again? Do I have the energy for this much change?&#8221; When we hold on to our fears and refuse to do anything about them we increase the likelihood that these will be the very areas where we experience trouble. Loneliness The loneliness after a breakup can feel intolerable. The finality of the relationship, the uncertainty about the future and the knowledge that your partner will no longer be there to comfort you or to spend time with you, can all contribute to an empty feeling that won’t easily go away. An effective way to cope with a breakup is to redefine what’s happened. For example, redefine ‘loneliness’ as ‘aloneness’ and realize that being alone gives you freedom to create a new future. In the same way, you can redefine ‘emptiness’ as a feeling of peace, contentment and fulfillment. Looking into oneself and liking what one sees is a key to making the shift to aloneness. Get into being alone. It is a precious but tenuous gift that can disappear to quickly from one’s life. Friendships The end of your relationship is a true test of just who your friends really are. It is important to draw on the emotional support of friends during and after a breakup. Unfortunately many of your friends were those who knew you as a couple &#8211; and now they often must choose between you. Even those who try to stay neutral may find this to be difficult. Many of them may feel that your breakup will somehow threaten their own relationship and some friends may now find it hard to [&#8230;]]]></description>
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