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Episode 2039:

Dr. Lisa Firestone's article "Why Break Ups Hurt So Much" on Psych Alive.org delves into the deep emotional impact of relationship endings. She introduces the concept of a "fantasy bond" – an imagined connection that offers a false sense of security but lacks genuine intimacy. Firestone explains that the pain of a breakup often stems from losing this illusion rather than the relationship itself. She encourages self-reflection to understand whether the distress is about the loss of actual connection or the fantasy, urging individuals to confront their inner critics and embrace their identity independent of the relationship.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.psychalive.org/why-break-ups-hurt-so-much/

Quotes to ponder:

"The overwhelming, emotionally shattering sense of loss that we experience at the end of a relationship is often the result of our having created a 'fantasy bond' with our partner."

"When we lose the relationship, what we are really losing is the false sense of security that the fantasy bond provided and not the intimacy that we once felt with our partner."

"Without the deadening restraints of a fantasy bond, we can discover who we really are and what we really want."

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