Are you the one who constantly needs to make everything right in a relationship? Or in a situation where you always need to fix your partner and find an excuse why he/she acts in a manner that isn’t nice or pleasurable for the betterment of that relationship/friendship? Maybe it’s time to practice healthy detachment in relationships.
Finding the line of healthy detachment means letting go emotionally of that person or what they are doing that troubles your peace of mind without avoiding them. It’s taking a step back from the situation, trying to find a solution for the bigger problem instead of proving you are right.
Why Emotional Detachment Is Important
Freeing yourself emotionally from being easily affected by other people’s behaviors and words, especially loved ones and family, isn’t always as easy as it sounds; it takes a lot of hard work and determination. If done properly, it helps prevent unnecessary heartache and also aids you in identifying harmful relationships from afar. However, understanding how to emotionally detach in relationship helps you know what to be on the lookout for in a partner, how a healthy relationship should proceed over time, and if a particular connection is worth fighting for.
It is also worth noting that staying in a toxic relationship with zero emotional detachment with a partner who doesn’t prioritize you, more often than not, causes untold emotional and psychological harm to you. However, for the protection of your mental health, here are some essential tips on how to detach from someone.
Five Tips on How to Detach from Someone
Detaching oneself emotionally from a loved one or family member takes a lot of time, patience, and effort, but here are some tips on how to emotionally detach:
1. Getting Space
When trying to detach from someone, taking a physical break from that person is advisable. A change of scenery always gives you a different perspective and helps you make a more comprehensive decision. Even more importantly, it stops you from making decisions solely on impulse. Sometimes a temporary detachment is needed to revitalize that spark in the relationship or even really understand why you should move on with it, and this only comes about by having some personal time to yourself.
2. Get a Hobby
When trying to detach from that toxic relationship or friendship, being busy is very important, as it helps take your mind off many things and keeps you occupied. This is where picking up a hobby or something you enjoy comes into play. It could be piano lessons, learning a new trade, or horseback riding. Immerse yourself in it so you don’t think of them as often as before.
3. Set and Maintain Boundaries
Detaching emotionally means you are pulling away inwardly, not removing the other person from your life, so for it to work, communication is vital at this stage. As long as your discussions with them are concerned, you let them know what changes you want them to make and the amount of effort you expect them to invest in the relationship. Define these parameters clearly and have a heart-to-heart conversation with them to set clear and new boundaries.
4. Join a Social or Support Group
When detaching emotionally from someone, overcoming that feeling of loneliness and constantly yearning for that person’s companionship is a big factor. Hence, it’s very useful to interact with like-minded people who share similar experiences and have been in your shoes. By connecting with a social or support group to recover, they offer guidance, motivation, and support in achieving your goal of focusing more on your well-being.
5. Take a Social Media Break
Another step towards detaching someone is getting off social media for a while.
At this point, social media can be a source of stress, especially if you create many memories with them (romantic or platonic). You may see these memories or even posts about them. This brings about nostalgia and makes detaching from that relationship even more difficult.
Final Note
Detachment isn’t about shutting out the world or giving up on your goals; it involves surrendering and generating greater trust in the universe. Detaching from someone isn’t going to be an easy journey. However, we at the Blanchard Institute are here to give you the moral support you desire to start and end this journey, so reach out to us today.