The Ex Outlet

Break-ups and divorces can be extremely isolating, confusing, and difficult. It can be a period of great change…and for most people change is terrifying.

When a significant relationship is over, many people chose to isolate themselves. This is unhealthy and can spiral quickly into depression. It is during this period that it is most important to surround yourself with friends…the real ones. It is common when you experience a low point or a “Failure” in life that you figure out who the real friends are.

You want to be with people who have a genuine interest in your present and future well-being. Friends that will make you laugh, listen to you cry for days on end, or help you try to find light in what seems like a bleak situation. When you leave their company, you feel better. EVERYONE goes through downtimes in life, and the friends that stick by you through these periods are few and golden. Treasure them. Remember them when you are back to 100% (You will be!) and they are experiencing a low point in their lives. Pay it forward.

There are the other “Friends” that we all seem to have too. These are the friends you might want to put on hold for a while. “I told you so.” “I wouldn’t have been your friend if you had stayed with him/her.” “He was really ugly & a complete loser, you have terrible taste.” Avoid friends who say anything close to these statements. Avoid friends who use your misfortune to remind themselves and you of how great their current relationship is. Avoid friends who will rub your new single status in your face. Also avoid friends that want to use your relationship drama for their entertainment.

If a friend makes you feel worse about yourself, it might be time to re-evaluate your friendship. And while you are in relationship-status changing mode, you might want to consider changing your status with these “Friends”.