Introduction: My Story and Why I Wrote a Book About Breakups xiii
Chapter 1 Why Your Brain Thinks Love Is Life- or- Death 1
Evolutionary Biology 3
Childhood 4
Our Three Primal Fears 6
Chapter 2 No Contact (Creating the Environment to Heal) 15
The No Contact Rule 16
No Contact to Get an Ex Back 22
No Contact to Move On 23
Chapter 3 What Kills Good Relationships? 39
Category 1: Differences in Attachment Styles 40
Attachment and Adult Romantic Relationships 44
Attachment Theory in Breakups 55
The Anxious- Avoidant Trap 55
Category 2: A Mismanaged Emotional Bank Account 59
Category 3: Differences in Goals or Values 61
Category 4: Self- Sabotage 63
Chapter 4 How to Rebuild a Relationship That Lasts 69
Move On or Wait for Them? 69
Common Mistakes 88
Should You Ever Reach Out to Your Ex? 94
Chapter 5 Crossing the River of Grief 97
Facing Your Pain 100 Modulating Healthy Distr(action) 102
Thinking Errors 104
Chapter 6 The Life- Changing Power of Small Wins 117
Micro Wins 119
Life Map 123
Say Yes to Things That Scare You 129
Anchoring Hope in the Future 130
Chapter 7 How to Stop Falling for People Who Can't Love You Back 133
Inner Beliefs 135
Your Beliefs Choose Your Relationships 140
Reliance on Others: Anxious vs. Avoidant 141
Letter to Little You 145
Daily Tracking 147
Chapter 8 Focusing Outward (Why Self- Care Is Not Enough) 151
The Science of Connection 152
Your Pain Qualifies You to Help Others 154
Connection as a Healing Tool 155
Chapter 9 Forgiveness: Setting Yourself Free 161
Forgiving with Boundaries 163
Forgiving Others 164
Forgiving Yourself 167
Forgiveness Is Free 171
Chapter 10 What If This Was the Best Thing That's Ever Happened to You? 175
Adjusting the Meaning and the Sunk Cost Bias 179
Releasing Control 182
Reframing Relationship Failure 184
Chapter 11 Dating After Heartbreak, Without Losing Yourself Again 187
The Dangers of Dating Too Soon 189
How Do You Know When You Are Ready? 193
Should I Date If I Still Think About My Ex? 194
Beginning to Date 195
Planning Dates 196
Feeling Numb 197
Overcoming Emotional Numbness 198
Setting Yourself Up for Success 203
Attachment Styles in Early Dating 203
Discussing Past Relationships and Partners 208
Finding People to Date 209
Look Where You Want to Find Them 211
Your Dating Compass: Primary and Secondary Characteristics 212
Chapter 12 Lined with Gold 217
Dear Reader 221
Acknowledgments 223
About the Author 225
Index 227