How to Support Your Best Friend When She Breaks Up With Her Boyfriend

We all know what it’s like to be broken up with. The hopelessness, the humiliation, and down right shittiness of it all. You know what it’s like to wake up in the morning and have to come to terms with it all over again. You find little reminders of him (or her–no judgement) lying around your room when you least expect it, and the sickening, maddening feeling of nostalgia overwhelms you when you’re just trying to do laundry or walk down a familiar street. Basically, it’s the worst.

You know how you deal with your own breakups, whether it be the occasional mopey facebook status (don’t go overboard on this one, ladies), burying yourself in hobbies, or just lots and lots of red wine and ice cream (my personal recommendation). But what do you do when it’s not your own break up that you’re dealing with? I’m talking about the BFF breakup and it can be just as treacherous and heartbreaking as your own. Here are some tips for helping your main bitch in her hour of need:

1. Make a little mischief.

Unless your best friend is some kind of saint, she’s probably going to be pretty ticked off at the guy who let her go. As her best friend, it is your job to help her vent without letting her cross the line into serious destruction. She may want to start a bonfire with all the little things that remind her of him but it’s your job to be there and actually suggest that maybe you guys smash them with a hammer instead. The two of you can stay up all night deleting old facebook pictures, make up nicknames for all his other ex-girlfriends, and of course, engage in some grade-A shit talking – just make sure she doesn’t key his car.

2. Distract, distract, distract!

Thoughts of a recent breakup can be pretty hard to shake. As her best friend, the best thing you can do is provide her with lots of fun activities to distract her. Instead of dwelling on the sad stuff, you two can take this opportunity for some serious girl bonding time. Watch movies, go to clubs, get manicures, or just take a walk –anything to get her head out of the past and into the present. Besides, who doesn’t want to hang out with their best friend all day?

3. Be honest (but not too honest).

Tough love has a time and a place, but it’s probably not now. Because you’ve been a witness to this relationship for a long time, you probably have some pretty solid advice on where she went wrong or how she can improve. You may even agree with her ex on some key points (the ultimate betrayal!), but now is not the time to express those feelings. Once the dust settles, and she’s ready to take a real look at what brought her relationship to an end you can tell her some hard truths, but in the immediate aftermath of the breakup, what she really needs is some unwavering support and understanding.

4. Lots and lots of red wine and ice cream

This one, I think, is pretty self explanatory.

Be the good friend we all know you are. Hope these tips help!