Editing Breakup (section)

=== Negative effects ===

==== Psychological distress symptoms ====

Individuals who had just recently experienced the dissolution of a romantic relationship reported several symptoms of acute [[psychological distress]]. These included flashback and intrusive memories associated with their partner, often triggered by important dates associated with either the relationship or the breakup.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last1=Chung |first1=M.C. |last2=Farmer |first2=S. |last3=Grant |first3=K. |last4=Newton |first4=R. |last5=Payne |first5=S. |last6=Perry |first6=M. |last7=Saunders |first7=J. |last8=Smith |first8=C. |last9=Stone |first9=N. |date=2002 |title=Self-esteem, personality and post-traumatic stress symptoms following the dissolution of a dating relationship |journal=Stress and Health |volume=18 |issue=2 |pages=83–90 |doi=10.1002/smi.929}}</ref> These intrusive distress symptoms manifested in various ways for both the individual who initiated the breakup and their partner, such as being reminded of certain aspects of their behavior or their preferences.

Another set of psychological distress symptoms that were reported by individuals who had experienced a romantic relationship breakup fell under the category of avoidance behavior.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite journal|last1=Samios|first1=C.|last2=Henson|first2=D.F.|last3=Simpson|first3=H.J.|date=2014|title=Benefit finding and psychological adjustment following a non-marital relationship breakup|journal=Journal of Relationships Research|volume=5 |issue=6|pages=1–8|doi=10.1017/jrr.2014.6|doi-access=free}}</ref> Being without their partner causes their self-concept to shift as they struggle through emotional distress.<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal|last1=Slotter|first1=E.B.|last2=Gardner|first2=W.L.|last3=Finkel|first3=E.J.|date=2010|title=Who am I without you? The influence of romantic breakup on the self-concept|journal=Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin|volume=36 |issue=2|pages=147–160|doi=10.1177/0146167209352250|pmid=20008964|s2cid=12216736}}</ref> This involves an active attempt at denying or ignoring the circumstances of the current situation, or those that led to the dissolution of the relationship. In relation to this, individuals also noted feeling numb and uninterested with the world around them because of the breakup.<ref name=":4" />

The combination of this desire to engage in avoidance behaviors and the intrusive memories that may naturally come up cause individuals to feel significant emotional swings and outbursts in the form of irritation, anger, and startle responses. Individuals were noted as being far more paranoid, suspicious, and jealous, often tied towards a desire to know information about their [[Ex (relationship)|ex-partner]].<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" />

Overall, these psychological distress symptoms come together to result in a significantly lower level of self-esteem among individuals who have just undergone the dissolution of a romantic relationship.<ref name=":4" /> Additionally, individuals undergo a significant redefinition of their self-concept, as they attempt to understand who they are without their ex-partner.<ref name=":6" /> This compounds upon the psychological distress symptoms that they feel from the loss of the relationship and is the most significant negative effect that people undergoing a breakup experience.

==== Grief reactions ====

A natural effect of the loss of a relationship that an individual had hoped to keep is grief, because the desire to keep relationships intact despite problems and complications is a natural human desire.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Eastwick |first1=P.W. |last2=Finkel |first2=E.J. |last3=Krishnamurti |first3=T. |last4=Lowenstein |first4=G. |date=2008 |title=Mispredicting distress following romantic breakup: Revealing the time course of the affective forecasting error |journal=Journal of Experimental Social Psychology |volume=44 |issue=3 |pages=800–807 |doi=10.1016/j.jesp.2007.07.001}}</ref> This results in individuals undergoing a breakup displaying grief reactions that include symptoms like sleeplessness, depression, and [[suicidal thoughts]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last1=Collins |first1=T.J. |last2=Gillath |first2=O. |author2-link=Omri Gillath |date=2012 |title=Attachment, breakup strategies, and associated outcomes: The effects of security enhancement on the selection of breakup strategies |journal=Journal of Research in Personality |volume=46 |issue=2 |pages=210–222 |doi=10.1016/j.jrp.2012.01.008}}</ref><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite journal|last=Mearns|first=J.|date=1991|title=Coping with a breakup: negative mood regulation expectancies and depression following the end of a romantic relationship|journal=Journal of Personality and Social Psychology|volume=60 |issue=2|pages=327–34|pmid=2016673|doi=10.1037/0022-3514.60.2.327}}</ref> This tendency to express grief and depression is so prevalent that researchers point to it being a significant contributor to the first onset of major depressive disorder in young adults.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last1=Tashiro |first1=T.Y. |last2=Frazier |first2=P. |date=2003 |title="I'll never be in a relationship like that again": Personal growth following romantic relationship breakups |journal=Personal Relationships |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages=113–128 |doi=10.1111/1475-6811.00039}}</ref><ref name=":6" />

The extent of these grief reactions is not limited to the time frame immediately following the dissolution of the romantic relationship. Even some time after the breakup, people who are asked to recall depressing or negative events in their lives commonly make reference to traumatic events of this nature.<ref name=":0" /> This negative effect can be attributed to the severity of the grief reaction that people who suffer through a breakup display, making a significant mark in their lives that they are unlikely to forget.

==== Decline in psychological well-being ====
In addition to these specific negative effects, individuals who are suffering through a breakup report a general decline in their psychological well-being. The general negative emotion that they feel often triggers other behaviors and habits that are either detrimental to their mental health or signify poor mental health conditions.<ref name=":4" /> These include:

*increased alcohol use
*weight loss
*worsening physical health
*admissions to psychiatric services
*increased criminal behavior
*increased risk of suicide
*negative emotions and feelings (such as guilt, anger, or [[Social rejection|rejection]])

==== Stalking behaviors ====
A behavior that has been noticed following some breakups is the prevalence of [[stalking]] as one partner attempts to maintain contact with the other, however unwanted it may be. This type of behavior exists on a scale that stretches from an amicable breakup with no unwanted harassment behaviors all the way to stalking behaviors that are threatening and distressful to the partner.<ref name=":8">{{Cite journal|last=Roberts|first=K.A.|date=2002|title=Stalking following the breakup of romantic relationships: Characteristics of stalking former partners|journal=Journal of Forensic Sciences|volume=47 |issue=5|pages=1070–1077|doi=10.1520/JFS15514J|pmid=12353550}}</ref> This behavior stems from an unhappiness with the circumstances following the dissolution of the relationship, as well as a misguided belief that the stalking behavior may result in the reforming of the relationship. There is no clear definition of stalking behavior that differentiate it from socially acceptable activities; they become more sinister when they are unwanted and form a persistent pattern.<ref name=":8" />