PAGE 2

Most often, heartbroken people are unknowingly grieving a loss or trauma rooted in childhood or adolescence. That's because we tend to fall in love with people who remind us of those who cared for us—even badly—when we were young and totally vulnerable. We become childlike when we feel securely adored, letting go of all inhibition. The failure of adult relationships is often caused by the dysfunctions we internalized as children, and the devastation we endure when we're rejected almost always opens ancient wounds, making us feel as bereft as an abandoned little kid.

If you ask yourself how old you feel when you're in the worst throes of heartbreak, you'll probably find that a surprisingly low number pops into your head. Whatever the age of your grieving inner child, it's your job to comfort her, as you would help a toddler or a teen who had lost a parent. Do small, practical, caring things for yourself: Listen to a song that helps you grieve, schedule a play date with your best friend, wrap a soft blanket around yourself and let the tears come. Most important of all, give your childish self the chance to talk. Open your journal or visit your therapist, and let yourself express your anger and anguish in all its irrational, immature glory.

As you do this, you will almost certainly find yourself grieving losses you suffered way back when, as well as the one you've just endured. This is good: It means that you are finally progressing beyond ways of thinking and acting that didn't work for you early in your life—and still aren't working today. Acknowledging and comforting that younger self is absolutely essential to easing your pain, recovering from your wounds, and finding new sources of healthy love.

How old do you feel?
 

NEXT STORY

Next Story