How to Get Over Hurt and Betrayal

Hurt and betrayal are part of the human experience, and almost everyone goes through these trials at some point in her life. With a positive and proactive outlook, however, you can turn a dark period of your life into a productive and enjoyable time. Use setbacks such as hurt and betrayal as an opportunity to seek fulfillment, grow, love yourself, and become a stronger, happier person.

Instructions

• 1

  Allow yourself to process what has happened. Whether a friend or partner has betrayed you, refusing to think about the situation will only cause your stress level to increase. Set aside some private time to process your feelings. Write them down if you feel this will help you. Write letters to the people who have hurt you without intending to send them. Often private venting can help you come to terms with your emotions and begin to heal.

• 2

  Participate in your favorite activities and stay busy. Whether you like running, playing music or traveling, reserve plenty of time to do these things with people who care about you. Friends and family who have not betrayed you can be a great comfort during difficult emotional times. Once you feel you have processed the situation, let others in your life take your mind off negativity and sadness by arranging outings, so that you can remind yourself of all the good things in your life.

• 3

  Meet new people. Expanding your social life will help you get over hurt and betrayal since meeting new people and learning their stories and interests will remind you of all the options that you can still pursue, whether you have been hurt by a friend or a lover. New friends will open up opportunities and will help you develop new interests that enrich your life and help you recover from previous problems.

• 4

  Think positive thoughts. Whenever a self-deprecating or negative thought enters your mind, force it out and replace it with positive self-reinforcement or excitement for the future. You can retrain your mind to avoid negative ruts in which you dwell on hurtful incidents or blame yourself for someone else's behavior. Surrounding yourself with positive people and banishing unproductive negativity should accelerate the healing process.

• 5

  Make a list of activities you can participate in since your life no longer includes the person who hurt or betrayed you. Maybe your lover hated traveling, and now you can take that trip you've always wanted. Or maybe the friend that betrayed you disliked another of your friends, whom you can now spend time with freely. Indulge in these activities and enjoy your new freedom and autonomy. Use your new independence to find fulfillment in areas you never before would have considered.