Leaving a toxic lover behind is not an easy process. So, after leaving such a relationship, the first thing you should do is praise yourself on the back and hold your head high. Whether you’ve experienced emotional abuse, physical aggression, or a partner who repeatedly gaslights you, you deserve better. While the road to rehabilitation and heart healing may be long, this is a crucial step. Take a look at some strategies for regaining your self-esteem after leaving an abusive relationship.
- Accept responsibility for the relationship and forgive yourself for allowing someone to mistreat you. Be gentle to yourself and don’t judge yourself for your decisions.
- Take up a new pastime that allows you to create something concrete and track your development. Whether it’s pottery, painting, or sculpture, seeing concrete results from your perseverance can provide the validation and satisfaction you need to acquire a new skill.
- Give your shared friends some room and reconnect with childhood friends who remember the more confident and outgoing you.
- It can be beneficial to assist another person with responsibilities. It could be helpful counsel to someone just starting out in their job, cooking lessons for a teenager, or simply lending a sympathetic ear to someone coping with emotional baggage. This would also help you regain your self-esteem as someone who can actively contribute to society.
- Reconnect with childhood pastimes that brought you delight. Cycling off for a picnic, reading a romance novel, flying a kite, or even stargazing are all options. Rep these steps to regain your self-esteem.
Don’t force yourself to do anything; instead, allow yourself to relax and feel comfortable after being in an abusive relationship, knowing that things will only get better.
