Here’s my take on this. It’s a tough situation, and everyone’s path through it is different. While there isn’t one single roadmap, many people find their experience mirrors the general stages of grief. You might start with denial or shock, where it doesn’t feel real. Then often comes anger at the situation or your former partner. This can be followed by a bargaining phase, where you’re looking for ways to undo things. After that, a period of deep sadness or depression is common as reality sets in.
The final stage is acceptance, where you start to rebuild. The important thing is that these stages aren’t linear; you might bounce between them. Understanding this framework can just help make sense of the emotional chaos and show there is a path forward.