You can’t eat. You can’t sleep, and the pain seems unbearable. How long will it last? What can you do? Well, the truth is there is no quick way to mend a broken heart.

There are however, a few steps you can take to get well sooner:

1. Expect to feel bad for awhile. Facing your pain is a natural first step to moving on. Cry when you need to, but don’t overdo it. Endless hours spent viewing photos of your lost love while listening to sad songs is no way to get healthy.

2. Share your feelings with people who care about you; family, friends, anyone who can offer positive support. Sometimes just having a concerned listener can make all the difference in the world.

3. Take care of your health. Stay active and watch your diet. Often after a break-up, we neglect our physical well-being. This can only make things worse.

4. Spend time doing things you enjoy such as sports, shopping, even homework! Keeping busy will help you feel better faster.

Give yourself time. Getting over a broken heart can't be rushed. Grieve, but release the hurt or anger. Stay strong and know that the pain will soon fade.

Written by Michael Dupre