But is all this kerfuffle needed for something the vast majority of us will go through at least once in our lives? On the spectrum of trauma a person can experience, how bad can it be?
“人们打交道ith all kinds of things during breakups," says Anna Belle Wood ofMany Colors Counseling, who specializes in psychotherapy for women and the LGBTQ community. "Psychological trauma is a subjective experience — meaning, it is defined by you — and it is characterized by feeling extremely helpless and overwhelmed. The loss of a close relationship, especially depending upon the details of your situation, can absolutely make you feel this way. I help clients deal with this by restoring a sense of control over their lives, making meaning from the past, and restoring hope in the future."
So, maybe the need for things like breakup boot camps have more to do with our need for extra help in all areas of our lives that we're constantly holding together until the end of an important relationship brings it all crashing into our laps. And although eating delicious meals, doing yoga, talking to neuroscientists, life coaches and others who have recently been through breakups can definitely help, healing unhealthy relationship patterns can take a lifetime — not just a weekend.
"I personally think the boot camp idea sounds fine, but I would look at it more as a retreat and way to get support, or jumpstart the healing process," says Morgan. "I would caution someone planning to attend that they shouldn't expect a quick fix. Breakups can bring up long-held, painful wounds and negative beliefs, but they're actually a good opportunity to change the narrative. This doesn't happen overnight and requires some work. A breakup can actually be a positive sign of growth — that one is changing a pattern or not willing to accept unacceptable behavior anymore."
Learn more about surviving a breakup in "The New Single: Finding, Fixing, and Falling Back in Love with Yourself After a Breakup or Divorce" by Tamsen Fadal. HowStuffWorks picks related titles based on books we think you'll like. Should you choose to buy one, we'll receive a portion of the sale.