This June, I experienced rejection in a big way. It left me feeling insecure, sad, alone… heartbroken. I spent the first half of the summer feeling lethargic and unmotivated, and the second half on a mission to change myself with extreme dieting and constant exercise. Time began to heal my heart, yet I still felt this lingering sense of disappointment. I know that bringing up my self-esteem will be an ongoing process, but one thing that has helped me in my journey to full recovery was a recent visit to a support group called Heartbroken Anonymous with Naz Perez.
You might recognize Naz as the host of the LA Dodgers, or maybe from Clevver TV. You might even recognize her voice from the I Don’t Get It Podcast, a program that features Naz with sisters Ashley and Lauren Iaconetti, as they talk about all things girls want to talk about: from the joys and struggles of sex, love, life and everything that falls in between (be sure to check them out, if you haven’t!)
Recently, Naz has founded a support group for those experiencing the pains of heartache, called Heartbroken Anonymous. She was inspired when a heartbroken stranger felt more comfortable confiding in her than her own family or friends. She came to realize the importance of self-expression during times of heartache, and found that many people struggle with finding others willing to listen… and thus HBA was born.
“Because you’re not the only one dealing with this sh*tty feeling, and your friends need a break.”
HBA is a non-judgmental space for sharing and listening to stories of heartbreak. Her website outlines all things that lead to heartbreak: “it includes (but is not limited to) a break-up/divorce in a romanic relationship, turmoil or loss in a family relationship, friendship, job, or dream. And, the loss of a loved one or a pet. Unrequited love can also cause heartbreak”. It also states the importance of anonymity and reminds readers that the only requirement for membership is hope. Inspiring, to say the least.
Realizing that I have built up, ongoing heartache from situations I’ll keep, well anonymous, I decided to try out Heartbroken Anonymous. I have to admit, I felt really nervous going into it. Letting a bunch of strangers in on my most painful moments and vulnerable insecurities seemed like a really scary thing. As it turned out, being able to express myself in a safe space without any judgment was freeing and enlightening. I felt nothing but love and support from my anonymous peers, something I hadn’t felt when confiding in some of my very best friends who had dismissed my feelings in the past.
Heartbreak doesn’t discriminate against good looks, great personalities, or successful careers (trust me, I was surrounded by women who fit into all of these categories). Being broken up with doesn’t mean you are a fat, ugly, loser who is unworthy of love, even though it feels like that in the moment. It means you are a human-being going through a completely normal, common experience… even though it may seem like everyone around you is in a happily committed relationship. As long as you hang on to that hope that Naz reminds you of in the beginning of the session, you will be just fine, I promise.
If you, or anyone you know, is feeling heartbroken in anyway, and live in or near the LA area be sure to check out Heartbroken Anonymous. It’s free! The next meeting will be on Thursday, November 9th at 8pm at Openspace, LA. You can find out more about HBA, and reserve a spot for the next meeting at www.heartbrokenanonymous.com.
Photo Credit:
Cosmopolitan.com
Heartbrokenanonymous.com
Idontgetit.libsyn.com (you can actually listen to the podcast here!)
instagram.com