How long after breakup did your normal sleep/eating patterns return?

[ColdandLonelyinAK]

Is it normal to still not be able to sleep or eat normally a little over 3 weeks after breakup?

 

When did you start feeling "normal" in his area of your life again? Just wanting to hear some personal experiences on this issue.

 

I can feel the sleep getting a little better, but I still don't want to eat anything. If I do, it's once a day in the late afternoon, and it's very little and I feel sick after.

[TunaCat]

Normal is such a general term as there are many ways to define normal.

 

Like with me, I didn't have any issues with eating or sleeping after I was dumped. Maybe the first night or two were rough, but that's it. I kept thinking I was not normal because I had no real issues with my eating or sleeping patterns.

 

Many people do not eat when they are stressed or upset (my mom is one of them) I on the other hand eat a lot when I'm stressed or upset.

[jen1447]

4 - 5 months back when I had my epic lifetime dump back at the end of HS.

[aloneinaz]

I read it can take a week or two. In my case, it was a couple of weeks before my sleep returned to normal and I got my full appetite.

[Gwwm123]

With my initial breakup it took about 4-5 months to regain appetite and be able to sleep adequately, second time about 3-4 weeks.

[Mrin]

Last breakup that caused me to lose sleep or appetite was about two weeks. But I stumbled upon my Soulmate about three days after The Day but took me another 4 weeks to realize the magnitude of who I had just met.

 

Silver Lining - one thing I kinda dug about it was that I ended up working out like a madman and not really having much appetite. Dropped 10 pounds and built a crap ton of muscle mass really quickly.

[Ruby65]

A good six months before my sleep was really back to normal.

 

Appetite came back after a month or two -- I've always dropped at least ten pounds with any significant breakup.

 

This all comes with the territory and will pass.

[Cambria]

It took me almost 3 months to get back to a more normal sleep and eating pattern. I am now at just over 4 months post BU. I hope you recover sooner than I did. Not being able to sleep really took its toll on my body and my ability to do my job.

[Moley87]

Horrible that this happens to us when we split up but was roughly 2 months before I could say I was eating better.

 

 

However I am still not pigging out like I use to but I have found small and often seems to now work for me

 

 

Sleep wise was around a month before the dreams , wake ups happened but still get the odd day here and there

 

 

In summary everyone is different but 2-4 months is maybe average I guess

[AIJ]

3/4 weeks, however my sleeping pattern has never really been 'normal'. I've gone to sleep at 2, 3, 4am etc. on a regular basis for as long as I can remember however the following weeks after the break up I would wake up a lot during the night, and then wake up properly at around 6/7am have this disgusting feeling of emptiness.

 

So yeah, 3/4 weeks. It'll come back to you, just give it time Crazy to think a break up can cause us actual physical pain.

[SankeCoffee]

about 2 weeks, I got back to normal when I realized that it was over and why should I allow myself to suffer, take that pain and hurt and your feeling and get in the gym. I am in the best shape of my life now after my breakup and feel great, plus your gonna be tired after a hard workout and sleep better

[colinmissesk]

I am 3 weeks into having my heartbroken after 7 years. I used to be a bodybuilding hobbyist and so far I am down 15lbs. It's amazing how connected the brain/heart/body area. I literally just am not hungry.

 

The mornings are brutal for me too, I don't even try, at nights I'm able to choke down liquids (protein shake, meal replacement).

 

Keep us updated and good luck

[Lizrd3000]

I am 3 weeks into having my heartbroken after 7 years. I used to be a bodybuilding hobbyist and so far I am down 15lbs. It's amazing how connected the brain/heart/body area. I literally just am not hungry.

 

The mornings are brutal for me too, I don't even try, at nights I'm able to choke down liquids (protein shake, meal replacement).

 

Keep us updated and good luck

Same here. I work out alot, I'm also pretty ripped, but I just can not for the life on me continue the same eating pattern. it sucks so much.

[Meli22]

Lost appetite and sleep for the first 1-2 weeks, then we attempted to reconcile at week 3. Didn't work out, same pattern repeated for about 1-2 weeks after that. Everybody is different. I LOVE food so it was easy for me to get my appetite back. Worst feeling ever not being able to eat because of that horrible knot in your stomach can totally sympathise there. It's been 2 months for me now and I feel (physically) great. Diet is back on track and I've been training 5 times a week. After the break up for the first few weeks my entire body hurt. Like I'd been hit by a truck. You'll be ok soon I guarantee

[ColdandLonelyinAK]

BU was 3.5 weeks ago. At first, I could only sleep 3 or 4 hours a night and still couldn't nap. Just pure anxiety kept me awake, running through everything in my mind. As for my appetite, wouldn't want to eat anything until late afternoons and that hasn't changed at all.

 

I'm actually getting to where I want to sleep whenever I can now. It's like my body is playing catchup and it's exhausted from all the sleep I lost.

 

My appetite, I wonder if it's really nerves or if it's an unhealthy voice in the back of my mind telling me my ex left me because I gained a little weight while I was with him, and not to eat. I have moments where that thought crosses my mind, and I'll take a bite of something, taste it and just spit it out or feed the rest of my plate to the dog. My mind is also in "single mode" now, meaning I need to focus on attracting another partner so better watch my weight. It's an insecurity issue. I guess a part of me hopes if I lose weight he will also regret leaving me.

 

I lost 3.4 lbs in a day at one point, but it's been fluctuating because I eat so little that I think my body holds onto it all.

 

I just can't seem to eat, and when I do it makes me sick.

 

I was also going to the gym regularly pre-BU and can't do that anymore, because the workout makes me hungry and I don't want to eat, plus I just don't have the energy to work out.

 

I hope this isn't the start of an unhealthy relationship with food. It's like a struggle between mind and stomach at this point. My family expressed worry over it.

Edited May 20, 2015 by ColdandLonelyinAK

[leavesonautumn]

Getting back to sleeping regularly wasn't an issue - I was already so stressed out from the relationship that it didn't make a difference in that regard. However, it took about 5 months to finally start sleeping normally for the first time in my adult life (it was a long, stressful relationship).

 

Eating... well, I never had a problem with not eating enough but I drank so much initially after the breakup that I ate more then usual as well. That took a good 6 months to stabilize.

[colinmissesk]

They warn you so much about depression from a breakup, but few people mention just how bad the anxiety is.

 

So many thoughts, so fast, so much of the day.

[10yearsgoneaway]

2 months for normal eating habbits, just starting to sleep normal (3 moths)

 

Dropped 14 pounds, most of that was in the first 3 weeks.

 

Try to drink healthy green juices and protein shakes.

 

*because of protein burn, don't drink it too late in the evening, it will keep you awake.

[misspond]

When my LTR broke up and I was left with two small children, no money, no family close by and no-where to go my anxiety was through the roof. It took me a good couple of months to get my eating back on track, and the only way I could get to sleep in that time was to drink a wee bit too much once the kids were in bed and put some music on to fall asleep to.

 

Once you eat more regularly it's easier to fall and stay asleep too so don't forget they're connected. Eat whatever floats your boat, makes you feel good as you're eating it and trust that you'll gain some equilibrium again soon.

[Bing]

For me took about 2.5 months to get my appetite back. Had this happen years ago so figured this time I'd make the best of it...when you have to force yourself to eat you can make better choices about what you put into your body. Adopted some healthier habits, and forced myself to start walking'/hiking to burn stress- 4 months later and I lost 70 lbs, I'm tan and looking and feeling better than ever.

 

Thanks to my crappy ex for giving me the motivation to take control of my life!

[guest569]

It took me a few months to regain my appetite because I spent most of the time stressing and lost a lot of weight, i still have some food issues 1.5 yrs later. As for sleep , i slept 12+ hours each night after the breakup. I guess due to lack of energy and wanting to escape. I think its pretty normal to go through this as part of the grieving process