Social distancing makes splitting up extra hard. We asked therapists (and the newly single) how to cope with the coronavirus pandemic and a breakup.
By Brittany Wong | The Huffington Post
Breakup, then self-quarantine.
That’s how it happened for Scott, a writer in Austin, Texas: He and his on-and-off girlfriend of almost five years officially split up on Friday, March 13. A day later, he self-isolated.
The timing was purely coincidental, but the abruptness of it all made the experience so much worse.
“I can honestly say this is the most isolated I’ve ever felt,” said Scott, who, like others in this article, asked to use his first name only for privacy. “The weight of loneliness feels exponential: I am also carrying the sadness of the end of our relationship. This is the most difficult emotional and psychological challenge I’ve ever faced.”
He and his ex are texting, but rarely. He can tell it’s over for good.
Under normal circumstances ― say, ones that didn’t involve a global pandemic ― Scott said it would have been incredibly painful to envision a future without his ex. With the coronavirus, it’s hard to envision what the future looks like at all.
I’m sure the timing of the pandemic couldn’t have come at a worse time for many people for many different reasons. For some it’s personal – such as for the folks described in the article.For some it’s financial. For some it’s health-related. People are going through a lot right now. Now may be the time for some to take a serious look in the mirror and recalibrate their criteria for what creates happiness in their lives.
~ Kaine Fisher
