When suffering from heartache, the first wish one has is to make the pain go away. Heartbreak is a type of emotional pain that really, really hurts. In fact, it is so bottomless; it hurts almost as much as a real physical blow. Unfortunately, and as much as I hate to say it, there is no bandage for a broken heart. As much as a cliché as it is, time is a much-needed remedy to heal from such heart-wrenching pain. In time, the pain will subside. Until then, however, here are some tips to alleviate the pain that you are now feeling:

It is a fact of life: you are going to feel like complete rubbish for the first few weeks. In fact, if you are a very emotional person, you may end up crying non-stop for days. But you know what? Go ahead. A huge and painful change has just happened in your life; no one should expect you to be able to turn off those sad feelings like a switch. It’s just not that simple. Grieve for your loss through the act of crying. But remember not to do it for too long! If you revel in the past for too long, you will just end up getting even more hurt.

Find a shoulder to cry on, preferably of a person who cares about you and your feelings. By sharing your pain with another individual, you will be able to cleanse your soul. Let them comfort you, listen to you, and offer you advice. Even if you have no intentions of following their advice, simply sharing this comfort will make you feel better. Grieving is essential and knowing someone is there for you will help you move on faster with their help.

Distract yourself by putting the people you care most about back into your life. Relationships tend to have the ability to take people away from their families or best friends for weeks, so surround yourself with this much-needed network of support. You can also distract yourself with chores that need to be done around the house or by going to the gym. You can stay in and organize your closet or go out for a stroll in the park. Distractions will help you move on with your life easier, as long as the distraction does not involve your past in any way.

In fact, forget the past completely and focus entirely on you future. Once you have allowed yourself to indulge in your grief for an acceptable amount of time, look forward. The most important thing to do is to start an entirely new chapter in the book that is your life. Now that the anger and the sadness have subsided, it is time for renewal and hope that will help you move forward. Take time to get to know yourself as a single individual once again, rather than as part of a couple. By becoming you again, your soul will be replenished.

These steps may seem too hard right now, but they are completely necessary in order to put back together broken pieces of your heart. Remember that it is possible for you to become whole again and to become whatever you want to become. This is not the end. It is the beginning and an opportunity to start something fresh.