25 ways to regain confidence after a bad relationship breakup failure

If you are here you are most likely trying to figure out how to regain your confidence after a failed past relationship. Quite possibly a relationship that meant a ton to you. I’ve been there.

It’s a difficult time, and a terrible breakup is one of the most painful things that can have a lasting effect on your self worth for the rest of your life.

I’ve dealt with so many types of relationships that didn’t work out. I’ve been the dumper and dumpee (if that’s a word). Besides being one of the worst things you can deal with, it’s hard to know how to put the break up behind you.

Every little thing is a reminder of the what should have been a lasting good relationship. It’s also a terrible thing when your close friends try to tell you that there are better partners out there.

I did some research to find out the best ways to regain your confidence after a bad relationship and combined them with my own experiences to give you a list of the do’s and don’ts.

Good things and new experiences are on the horizon and it doesn’t have to take a long time to get over the unending negative thoughts that come with the end of a romantic relationship.

So, how do you regain confidence after a failed relationship? Give yourself some space to heal. Create some distance between you and your ex. Find the compassion to forgive yourself and your ex. Work really hard on restoring your sense of wellness. Focus on things that make you happy.

I will never forget the tall, lanky cashier at Books a Million. He said, “Good luck.”

I was locked and loaded, taking the first step with 7 new self-help books to help me rehabilitate my sense of self-worth and mental health after the breakup with Tom (name changed).

He was handsome, and we had a fiery relationship. When I found out he was seeing someone else, I was devastated. How could my best friend do that to me?

I needed to get him back or get over him. The books were designed to answer all of the questions.

The best book I remember from the time was: Act Like a Lady Think Like a Man by Steve Harvey.

I liked it so much that when I got the opportunity years later to hear Steve Harvey speak at a conference, I drove nearly 4 hours and paid for an expensive hotel to be there.

Table of Contents

A Look At What Makes Breakups Messy And The Healing Process Harder

Breakups can be really messy. Sifting the rubble to determine what was real and what wasn’t can be daunting. So I want to show you how to sort some of it out.

If you were the one to end the relationship, you may have felt unappreciated, unloved or worse yet abused.

If the relationship was abusive (you can learn the signs of being in one later in this article, if you aren’t sure), then there will be some additional work to do (you can read more about dealing with abuse here).

I’ve gotten out of abusive relationships and can tell you first hand that it’s not easy to get your head screwed on right after you’re messed up.

Here is a list of the things I have tried with different levels of success. You can run down any of these bunny trails like I did to discover them for yourself.

Further down in this article, I have a list of do’s and don’ts that I’d recommend you review first.

How I Tried To Regain My Self-Esteem After A Breakup

The first thing I wanted to know was whether it was meant to be. Maybe I had a shot at getting him back.

Researched Zodiac compatibility
Researched Chinese compatibility
Went to a palm reader, tarot cards, had my chakras aligned, etc.
Went to a psychic healer and spent $500 on my own crystal, which was a special import from Brazil so I could get my past cleared of the bad luck I had in relationships. (No offense, but I didn’t see a difference.)

When I decided that the chances of us getting back together again were slim to none, I started the work to get over him. Here are some of the things I did to make that happen.

Went to a psychotherapist, and I got on meds.
I punished myself on purpose. I drove by my ex’s house every day to see his new baes car parked out front, so it would hurt enough that I’d stop hugging the cactus. (Okay, maybe I wanted to see that relationship fail, to see whether I had a shot at rekindling the relationship, don’t judge me.)
I signed up for a dating website hoping I’d be free from the old by the new. (I learned there are serious creeps on dating sites, and they may be trying to date your friend while they try to date you.)
I went to see someone to get Reiki.
I got into Buddhism.
I got into Christianity.

Even after all of that I felt like my results were, “meh, mediocre at best.”

So here is my personal list (if I had to do all these relationships over again.) I hope it helps you reignite your self-confidence after a bad relationship so you can move on.

25 Do’s And Don’ts To Regain Confidence After A Bad Breakup

I am going to outline what I did that worked and didn’t work out so well.

1. Do Create Space (And Distance From Your Ex) – Use Affirmations To Keep Yourself On Track

During the first couple of weeks, create some distance between you and your ex.

This may require you to ditch the cell phone like I did.

I literally took the battery out of my phone (back when you could take the battery out) and threw it in my messy closet.

I knew that it would take a while to find it and the mess would keep me from digging. I figured anyone that really needed to get a hold of me could call my mom.

While this might not be quite feasible for you if you use your cell for business, there is a lot of technology out there today that can help you create some barriers.

Use call blocking and similar alternatives. You can also get a temporary “burner” phone and have your calls forwarded there. Don’t load the contact info on the temporary phone.

Whatever it takes, be comfortable creating some barriers.

When it comes to which affirmations to use, here is the best quote I came to live by when a long-term relationship ended.

Stop Hugging the Cactus
extracted from a teaching by sage Ramakrishna

2. Don’t Drive By Your Ex’s Home

(Unless it helps you remember that it’s over.)

However even so, proceed with caution. After one of my breakups, I chose a different way home from work. I didn’t want to drive by his house because it was a reminder of “us.”

Yet after another relationship in which I was left for someone else, I drove by his house every day to remind myself that it was over, and that I had to let go.

Every time I went by his house, I saw her car in the driveway. It stung, but I reminded myself, “He’s gone Kat. You’ve got to accept it.”

I don’t really recommend to much of this because it is a bit like hugging a cactus to learn you don’t want to hug a cactus.

It hurts and hurts. But, I do think there might be a place for it, if you find yourself in a similar situation.

Of course, you may be doing so just to see if you think you might have another go at the relationship (should she choose to leave.) Get clear on what your motivation is, and let the grieving process run its course.

3. Do Get Some Alone Time And Reconnect With Your “True Self”

Allow yourself to decompress. The danger of too much alone time is depression.

For me, it was just that.

I ended up having to see a counselor and get on an anti-depressant after one of my failed relationships. While I have always thought that anti-depressants are never a good thing to start, it was exactly what I needed.

On this particular occasion, it was after an abusive relationship ended. I still remember the moment I dialed 911. I had no fight left in me.

Oddly enough for me, calling the cops was the hardest thing for me. I had a strange sense of failure, weakness and vulnerability.

I think it was at that moment when I lost my confidence.

The idea here is to remember that we often let relationships define us.

The moment we lose that previous relationship, we see ourselves as “less.” The most important thing is to work out who you are outside of relationship.

A lot of people never take a break to do this.

4. Do Journal: Take Time To Journal

In my mind, there are two ways to journal. I think both are appropriate in the case of a failed relationship.

The first way to journal is to set a timer and just dump every thought that occurs to you. I always feel this is the best way to air your soul. It lets the feelings out, and releases the tension in your heart.

The second way is to reflect on what you are writing. This takes much longer and is more of an exercise than ridding yourself of the emotion that is plaguing you.

5. Do Talk To Someone: A Therapist Can Be Extremely Helpful During The Post-breakup Season

During this time, it’s important to take inventory of the relationship. You need to get clear on your contribution to the failure of the relationship and what is your ex’s to own.

This can get quite murky, and really knowing where the pieces all fit together may be virtually impossible for you to discover on your own.

However, it is crucial to get this sorted out so that you can help create a better relationship with your next love interest.

My therapist helped me understand how my upbringing forced the hand of fate. There were things I was doing (unconsciously motivated) that led to more difficulties.

You have to remember you are a co-creator in the relationship.

A friend of mine recently complained that her husband doesn’t help her do the dishes. “When he offers, I tell him no because then I wouldn’t have anything to complain about,” she confessed.

Look at weird little things that you might do in romantic relationships that create strife. You may be surprised to discover that you have destructive tendencies that have gone unaddressed.

As human beings, we love to be right. If we can prove to ourselves that our partners aren’t holding up their end of the bargain, we may get a sick payoff.

I’m not saying that this true for you. I was just surprised to discover some of the things I was unknowingly “up to” in the relationship.

Discover your flaws so you can catch yourself in the action and spare yourself and your future partner the misery of it all.

6. Do Create A New Adventure For Yourself

Giving yourself some wins in something knew is one of the greatest things you can do for yourself.

It can help you transform negative beliefs, a general limiting belief or low self esteem into the gateway to a heigh self-worth and a thriving inner self.

Next time a toxic relationship is asking for some room in your life, you’ll know to stop and look for a better person.

If your hobby is fitness related then you can skip over number 7, but it really doesn’t have to be. The reality is that there are only so many hours you can spend working out.

There are too many tempting moments when you are alone with your thoughts that it might be easy to pick up the phone and reach back out to your ex.

It’s time to move on. One way is to make sure there are some hobby projects that you can focus on when your mind wants to gravitate to those old thoughts.

7. Do Get In The Gym, But More Importantly Sign Up For An Athletic Event Of Some Sort

I joined an MMA gym and signed up for the Hero Rush athletic event.

There are two aspects of using the gym as a tool to regain confidence after a failed relationship.

I will cover that in just a moment, but first it is important to recognize that establishing the “right” kind of habits after a break-up should be considered high on the priority list.

Remember, during stressful times it’s easy to fall into old habits or create really bad new ones. Take my husband for example after his divorce.

He found himself just lying in bed, cuddling with a green bottle of Jaeger. This didn’t exactly help him head in a new direction in life. We can all have a tendency to look for the path of least resistance in order to cope. This is not a good time to do that.

If you set a goal to go to the gym it often isn’t enough.

Studies have shown that people who have done the best for themselves in terms of losing weight and transforming their physique have also set a goal of attending an athletic event.

This might be a 5k, a marathon, Crossfit or bodybuilding contest. Your chances of transformation drastically improve by taking this type of action.

In order to reinvent yourself after a break-up, creating a new healthier you is going to be as much a mental game as a physical one.

So, if you can carve out time to learn to rewire your thinking when it comes to fitness and health, you will not only discover a new physique, it will also get you connected to

8. Do Focus On You

We hear the terms “focus on you” quite frequently these days, however, I’m not convinced we really know what this means and how to do it.

The first thing that is important to focus on is doing some things that help put a smile back on your face, however, it is also important during this focus time to start thinking about what you contributed to the failed relationship.

It’s easy to put the blame over there on someone else, but since a relationship takes two, you’ve got to be willing to at least look at what you did to either attract someone who treated you the way he or she did, and what the common denominator is for your behavior that encouraged the inappropriate patterns in your relationship.

When you are ready to unpack this, you can do it with a counselor or therapist. You can start writing these things down in your journal.

A good place to look first is at your primary care giver, and how that looked. Look at the problem in your relationship and ask the question, “How is this similar to my relationship with my mom or dad.”

I’m sure you can see where I am going with this. I discovered that I never really felt valued by my dad. He worked overseas to provide for our impoverished family, and I always secretly thought that if I mattered, he’d be with me.

Likewise in relationship, I create scenarios with my partner that give rise to the question, “Do I matter?”

Unconsciously I create scenarios for my partner to prove his love for me. My goal is to create the ultimate scenario whereby he fails. This way I can prove to myself that I am unlovable and that is why I didn’t have my dad with me growing up.

Sick I know. But until you can recognize what is at play, you have no chance of not repeating it in the next relationship.

You’ll be bound by the eternal fate of reliving the experience over and over just like a scene out of Groundhog day or the series Russian Doll. (If you haven’t seen these, the story line is that they wake up to repeat the same day over and over again until they learn invaluable life lessons.

9. Do Create Solid “Me” Time

You may have heard that we are either introverted or extroverted. These are fancy words that basically mean that you either recharge your batteries by being with people or by being alone.

For extroverts who have dealt with the end of a relationship, being alone can be scary and the reverse is true for introverts.

Figure out if you are extroverted or introverted and give yourself permission to recharge however you need. It will do you some good to simply create a really positive environment for yourself.

You can’t make anyone else happy if you aren’t happy. Make sure that the time you spend here helps you rekindle a sense of freedom and peace of mind.

If you find the experience draining, then you can be sure that you are on the wrong path. The failed relationship should be a learning experience and bring with it a seed of an equal advantage in life.

Check in on your emotions frequently. Ask yourself, does this make me feel good or not. If the answer isn’t an overwhelming, “heck yeah.” It’s a signal that it’s time to adjust.

10. Do Get A Pet

Years ago, I was buying honey on the road from a guy who liked to raise bees as a hobby. He was a wealthy retired fellow. He shared with me that he had 10 dogs. I asked him why. He said that in a home with 10 dogs, there is a lot of love.

The older dogs lead the younger ones and there is lots of action and fun in the home. They are always happy to see you.

Egotistical as it might sound, you may need someone who loves you who is low maintenance. Pet therapy has been used for people who are dealing with post traumatic stress, and well, why not.

Certainly, there are things that are inherently important to taking care of a pet, but choose a pet with needs that are consistent with your ability to provide care.

You may need to think goldfish not golden retriever.

I have a 4.5 pound teacup Yorkie, who has the brain the size of a walnut and a heart the size of the Dalai Lama.

If you get the appropriate pet, they can give you someone to talk to, and they are always ready to listen.

11. Do Get On With Your Nutrition

I think the fitness industry would agree that getting your health and your mind right involves eating right.

Maybe it’s time for a cleanse and some vegan vanity. Do what you need to in order to clean up your diet even if it is for a short time.

Food is fuel and on your road to discovering balance and beauty after the harshness of a breakup, what better way to reward your body and mind than to give it proper nutrition.

During the stressful days of post-breakup, it’s easy to do what I did and reach for the comfort foods. But, set a limit to it. Give yourself a week of Bingefest, but make sure that it doesn’t become a habit.

Habits are usually formed around the 3 week mark. So, a few days won’t hurt you. Anything over 21 days, might set you on track to a point of no return. So be careful.

Go online and find a nutrition plan that works for you. Use a calorie tracker to make sure you aren’t over doing it.

12. Do Redesign Your Wardrobe

I’m not saying you should go overboard, but recently I went through all of my clothes in my closet.

I held each one and looked for a “spark of joy.” Now that may sound a bit odd at first, but Netflix ran a series called “Tidying Up” with Marie Kondo.

She uses the Kondo method and wrote a book on her process for cleaning up your life.

She teaches you to gain a profound connection with your clothing. We often take what our clothing does for us for granted, and it is easy to ignore the value in having clothes in a western civilization.

The basic process is:

Remove every article from your closet
Hold each item (one by one) in your hands and look for the spark of joy, or the absence of the same.
If there is a spark of joy, put it back in your closet, if there isn’t assign it for donation and thank the item of clothing for its service to you.

I found this process to be fun and difficult at the same time. The bottom line is that at the end of the process, you will walk into a closet where each one of your possessions actually brings you joy.

Now, when I walk into my closet every article has the potential to put a smile on my face because I like them or have a special memory that they trigger.

What I found interesting about the process was how many articles of clothing actually kind of reminded me of negative experiences. It was nice to remove them and let someone else have them.

Even if they are nice, hardly worn, you may do yourself a favor by donating them.

13. Do Reinvent Yourself

You may have never taken the time to ask who you are in this world, but this is a good time to figure out what the heck you are doing on planet earth.

You can use something like the “accountability mirror” described in David Goggins book Can’t Hurt Me: Master your Mind and Defy the Odds. I recommend this book on audio because there is a version where David himself elaborates on his experiences in addition to the narrator.

The point of the book is that you have got to get real with yourself and who you have been being in your life. He says, “If you are fat, tell yourself you are fat.” Once you get honest with yourself, you can do something about it.

If you are fat, tell yourself you are f’n fat. If you are dumb tell yourself that you are dumb.
David Goggins

Overall his point is that we are too soft. We need to harden up and the only way to do that is to face your demons. Face the things you fear the most.

It’s a worthy read. It will help you go to work on the foundation of who you are.

If your foundation is flawed then even the most perfect relationship doesn’t stand a chance because you will be building something valuable on a shaky foundation.

You can take simple steps towards improving a whole lot in your life. For instance, get a new hairstyle.

14. Do Surround Yourself With Positivity

Remember the discussion on the wardrobe? Part of the point of this is to make sure that you are surrounding yourself with the most reliable system to create happiness in your life. Maybe push pause on social media.

Start looking at the relationships in your life. Ask, do these relationships serve me? Choose the ones that are right for you and nurture those.

You may just want to take a break from the others. It’s okay to be honest about where you are at.

When my husband experienced failure on the job, he needed to take a break, and he just told people the truth. He told people he is hiding from the world.

It was surprising how much understanding people had for this. He just wanted to let people know that it wasn’t personal and that just because he was sucking wind, didn’t mean he didn’t want to be connected.

Surround yourself with people who are “for you.” Understand that after a breakup, you are a bit broken.

If you had a broken arm, others would understand that you couldn’t play sports, likewise, just let people know you are trying to recover from what you have been through (without playing the victim).

15. Do Clean Your House, Room, Closet, Garage And Clean Up Your Finances

In one of the personal development courses I took, they required us to clean up and organize our lives. It wasn’t limited to our bedroom. They wanted it all cleaned up.

The reason turned out to be your relationship with yourself. Here’s a scenario to show you what I mean.

You have a big homework project due. You show up to the classroom and the teacher asks if everyone in the class has their homework ready.

You know you didn’t and feel awful. The teacher asks everyone who did it to raise their hand.

You may choose to raise your hand so you aren’t singled out. The point is that the relationship you have with your own self-confidence at that moment is weak.

Now imagine the alternative. You come to class and everything is done. How high would you hold your hand up when asked if the assignment was completed?

It’s a very different experience.

Likewise, when you know that your house is in order and that everything is tended to appropriately, your sense of self increases in power and strength.

As you tackle all of the loose ends in your life by cleaning these areas up in your life, you will feel empowered and have a sense that your life is under control.

16. Do Forgive: Forgive Yourself And Your Ex

I probably should have listed this near the top of the list, but I didn’t because I think that we all need a little distance from the relationship before we are ready to forgive a failed romance.

You will need to look at what you need to forgive your ex partner for. Make a list. This comes in handy so that you can be intentional about what areas led to most hurt, and I recommend saying it out loud.

I forgive Tom for cheating on me when I loved him so much.

Then there are areas that you need to confront concerning yourself. You may be mad at yourself for myriad of reasons.

I forgive myself for not seeing this sooner.

Get clear on all the areas and attributes about yourself that make you mad. Maybe you were careless with your words or found yourself being selfish or lazy in the relationship.

Whatever it was, list it and forgive it.

The art of forgiveness comes from not only saying it, but releasing it.

Forgiving is about releasing someone from a debt. I like to think of it as if someone owed you a lot of money. You come to terms with the fact that you will never be repaid.

You release them (or yourself) from the “I owe you.” You can also write a letter to your ex (but may not want to send it).

Forgiveness is about reclaiming space in your heart and in your head. As you forgive you create more freedom for yourself. Even if you are right about how wronged you were, it’s like drinking poison hoping the other person will die.

It doesn’t help you to hold on to the bitterness.

17. Don’t Drink

My husband comes from a long line of alcoholics. It was his natural way to numb the pain. He had a friend remind him of this rule early on after his divorce. He put the bottle down, and replaced the tendency with working out.

I recommend that you remain aware of what the negative outlets and temptations are for you, so you can steer clear early in the process.

It’s easy to fall into a bad place, you are going to need to guard your heart from the wrong outlets.

The sooner you get intentional about it the better. While it may initially numb the pain a bit, it will screw up the odds for you in the next relationship. If you have dealt with an addict, you know that it can get tricky.

Do yourself and your next romance a favor, get clean, stay clean.

18. Don’t Wallow Or Play The Victim

Don’t play the victim here. It may be tempting to blame your ex for everything that happened, and there is a place for it as we will see in the grieving process, but don’t go too far down that road.

The problem is that if you get to blame your ex for everything, you can avoid responsibility and stunt your personal growth and the inherent learning that is available to your after the trauma.

19. Do Grieve The Loss Of The Relationship

You may have heard of the 5 stages of grief. A breakup is the death of a relationship, and you need to give yourself the room to grieve it.

The 5 stages are:

Denial
Sadness / Depression
Anger
Bargaining
Acceptance

You may not go straight through each one of these emotions. You may find yourself bouncing around a bit. One day you feel sad, the next angry. Or you plead with God to restore your relationship then you get sad.

The key is to accept and embrace the emotions as they come. Don’t just them. Just let them be. Here is an article I wrote on how to grieve well.

It’s important not to resist the emotions that come with the process so that you can come out healthier and happier on the other side.

I like the Grief Giraffe (you can search this up on YouTube). I think adult swim did a good job of outlining the 5 stages.

20. Do Take A Vacation

It doesn’t have to be expensive. You may just go stay with a friend across town. But a change of scenary can give you a break from all of the reminders.

This can help you create the necessary distance between yourself and your ex to start the process of dealing with the trauma.

If you can afford it. Go a bit further to a place that offers some quiet for you to truly reflect on what went right and wrong in the relationship so that you can be prepared for the next romance to have a better chance.

I like to find places with quaint coffee shops within walking distance, and tell myself that it’s okay. Accept the new circumstances and focus on enjoying this moment.

21. Don’t Date Right Away

I joined a free dating site after one of my breakups. I thought it was a good way to move on.

The problem is that when you are desperate to repair your heart, you may do things that are counterproductive that leave you feeling worse.

This is my overall experience with dating too soon after a failed romance.

I’m just not rational, and I’m not ready for rejection. Sure it may feel good for a bit, but the opportunity for more trauma to your self-esteem is just too risky.

Get healthy then get back to it.

22. Do Fall In Love With Yourself

Figure out what you love to do. Start looking to get to know yourself on a new level. Here’s an article I wrote on how to become you 2.0. We discussed this briefly in creating new hobbies and reinventing yourself.

But what I am talking about here is self-love. Get connected to the unique being that you really are. Do you know that there is not another human being out there that is like you?

If you find yourself starting to yawn about now, then you may not have really truly ever gotten connected to why you are unique and why you are lovable.

Study yourself, study what makes you unique. Change your self-talk away from only being critical to reminding yourself of the things that you love about yourself.

If you find the voice in your head reminding you of all of your shortcomings, ask whose voice is this anyways.

You may be shocked to discover that it is the voice of a primary care giver scolding you for all of the things are doing right.

Time to change the voice in your head and rewrite the script on your self talk.

23. Do Establish Your Non-Negotiables

This is a good time to figure out what is super important to you.

Spend time writing down what you really want in a relationship and get clear on what things you won’t tolerate or the thresholds of negativity that you aren’t up for in future relationships.

Draw a line down a sheet a paper. On one side list the essential things that you want out of a relationship and on the other side the things that you don’t want / or won’t tolerate.

Once you see it in black and white, it will give you a sense of direction that can help you navigate the next relationship and see why this one failed.

24. Do Spend Time Reflecting On What Went Right And Wrong

Again, on a sheet of paper with a line drawn down the middle, list the things in your relationship that went right and the things that derailed communication, love, romance, connection and intimacy.

You might find it useful to create several lists. Look at each area of the relationship and run through the exercise with those in mind.

For instance under the communication maybe you list:

I loved it when we laid under the stars talking about our hopes and dreams, or I have a hard time being yelled at.

If you get clear on what is workable for you, you will be able to communicate this to your partner in the future in a way that gives them clues of areas that are sensitive for you.

25. Do Find Music That Supports Your Journey

One of the things that helped me was to listen to a sad song that reminded me of the failed relationship over and over again. I cried and cried, but found that there was a point at which it stopped.

This helped me find some level of resolution in its own right. You may have to repeat this process for several days, but it always helped me purge my soul.

If you need inspiration, there are three songs that helped me.

The first was, “I’ll Never Get Over You Getting Over Me” by Expose. (I’ll never forget my sister yelling at me to “get over it already.” Since she had to hear me play that song so many times.)
The second song that always helped me was “Someday” by Nina.
The third song is “Better in Time” by Leona Lewis.

Once you feel you have adequately purged of all the negative feelings, it’s time to create a new list. I usually started with “Bye, Bye, Bye” by Nsync followed by “The Fighter” by Gym Class Heroes and then moved on to “I Will Not Bow” by the Breaking Benjamin.

Your playlist may look different to mine, but I’m sure you get the drift.

It’s time to come up with a new playlist that supports your freedom. There are tons of songs out there that focus on regaining independence after a bad relationship breakup.

Napolean Hill, an author, who studied 500 millionaires and wrote about the key principles that governed their lives noted that music has a powerful influence on the subconscious mind. It can give individuals newfound strength and confidence.

Recognizing The Signs Of A Toxic Or Unhealthy Relationship

Recognizing the signs of a toxic or unhealthy relationship is crucial for your overall well-being. Not all relationships are healthy, and that toxicity is emotionally, mentally, and sometimes even physically damaging.

Here are some signs to look out for:

Lack Of Communication

Communication is one of the most important aspects of any healthy relationship.

When there is a lack of communication, misunderstandings can occur, which can lead to resentment and frustration.

In a toxic relationship, one or both partners may avoid communication altogether, leaving important issues unresolved.

Controlling Behavior

Another sign of a toxic relationship is controlling behavior.

This can manifest in a number of ways, such as being overly possessive or jealous, limiting the other person’s access to friends and family, or dictating how the other person should dress or behave.

In extreme cases, controlling behavior can even escalate to physical violence.

Manipulation

Manipulation is another common sign of a toxic relationship. This can involve guilt-tripping, gaslighting, or using threats or ultimatums to get what one partner wants.

Manipulation can be very subtle, so listen closely to your own feelings and instincts when it comes to your relationship.

Lack of Trust

Trust is essential for any healthy relationship.

In a toxic relationship, one or both partners may have a difficult time trusting the other. This can be due to past experiences, insecurities, or just a general lack of faith in the relationship.

Without trust, the relationship can quickly become toxic and unhealthy.

Recognizing the signs of a toxic or unhealthy relationship can be very hard to do, especially if you’re emotionally invested in the relationship. None of us wants to see the bad side of something we’ve committed to.

If you notice any of these signs in your own relationship, take a step back and really think about whether the relationship is truly healthy for you.

Remember that you deserve to be in a relationship that is respectful, supportive, and fulfilling.

How Do You Divide Assets After A Breakup?

Going through a breakup is already hard enough, but when you have shared assets or financial ties with your ex-partner, it can make the situation even more complicated.

Shared assets could include a house, car, joint bank accounts, or other valuable possessions. Not to mention, any financial obligations, such as loans or credit card debt, that were taken on together during the relationship.

One of the biggest challenges when it comes to a break up when you share assets is figuring out how to divide things up fairly.

One of the most important things you can do is to talk openly with your ex and try to come to an agreement that works for both parties. If necessary, consider hiring a mediator or lawyer to help navigate the process.

As you are going through the process, try to take into account any emotions that come up for you.

You may feel a sense of attachment or sentimental value towards certain possessions, or you may feel angry and resentful towards your ex for certain financial decisions that were made during the relationship.

Whatever they are, acknowledge these feelings and try to separate them from the practical considerations of dividing up assets and finances.

If at all possible, try to separate yourself financially from your ex as soon as you can.

Close any joint bank accounts and make sure all bills and payments are in your name only. This can help to avoid any future financial complications or disputes.

Splitting up assets is never an easy process, but the sooner you can reach a fair and practical agreement, the sooner you both can move on with your lives.

Get Your Confidence Back After A Bad Breakup

In conclusion, the best book I read was Steve Harvey’s book. It helped me realize what I was doing in relationships that set me up for failure.

I started getting connected to the fact that I do have value, and I shouldn’t be bringing my question of value to guys, who inevitably disappointed me because I could create a scenario, in which the best would have virtually no choice but to reject me.

Another book I read was. Why Hasn’t He Called by Matt Titus and Tamsen Fadal.

I learned I need to wait 2 weeks before contacting my ex to give myself and them some space.

Make sure you don’t go into debt trying to solve your sleepless post-breakup nights (here are some nighttime affirmations to help get you to sleep). Remember my $500 mistake buying the crystal. When you are desperate you have to be careful because you can be conned into virtually anything.

I got purposeful about telling myself that I needed to let go.

I had to let go of the concept that it was going to work out. Otherwise, I’d be stuck holding on emotionally to something that was just causing me pain.

The last thing that really helps is time. Time is on your side. It will help you heal. Unfortunately there isn’t anything fast about time. But it will help.

Good luck on your journey towards healing a broken heart gaining confidence after a failed relationship or bad breakup.

25 Most Important Tips To Regain Confidence After A Breakup