Getting Dumped

It happens to pretty much everyone. You've fallen for someone, only to have him take that job offer in Shanghai, or have her dump you for the electrician. Some experts advise getting right back out there on the dating scene after a breakup. It's not a good idea to hide in your room and watch cooking shows for months, but it's definitely worth taking some time to grieve your loss before you try again. Psychologists identify five stages of grief, which might look like this: Denial: "She's coming back." Anger: "She didn't deserve me! She's rotten and I hate her!" Bargaining: "Maybe if I propose, she'll come back." Depression: "I'm worthless without her. No one else will ever love me." Acceptance: "She's not coming back, and I'm surviving." You don't have to go through the stages in order, and you may even skip some of them altogether, but knowing what they are can be helpful in recognizing your own emotions as part of a common process. Be especially careful of getting stuck in depression, which can actually provoke chemical imbalances in your brain. As you move toward acceptance, you can begin to think about what kind of life you want as a single person, and what kind of partner might be an enjoyable part of that life.