They say that breaking up is hard to do - and it is. For people, the end of a relationship can often feel like the death of a loved one. Because the experience is so painful, there is usually a period of grief and a multitude of emotions ranging from sadness to anger to shock. Regardless of whether you were the dumper or the dumpee, getting over a split can be a long, life-changing process. First and foremost, give yourself time. The pain isn't going to go away overnight. For many people, it takes months or years to recover from a painful split. When the waterworks begin, cut yourself a break. You've been through a traumatic experience. Avoid jumping from one relationship to the next. Let yourself heal so you that you are in a healthy mindset when you take another shot at love. You might be tempted to self medicate with drugs, alcohol or even sex. Do not give into these dangerous and destructive urges. Consider counseling to help you work through your feelings.