What Guys Really Do to Get Over Breakups (2024)

Think you’re the only one drowning your sorrows in cheesecake and Adele songs after a breakup? Maybe not. Surprisingly, 25 percent more men than women admitted being lovesick after every breakup, according to a recent survey by the U.K. dating site Elite Singles. And get this: Fewer men than women said they had to really be in love to experience this post-breakup funk.

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So how do they deal? Pretty much the same way you do, according to the survey. Most men vented to their friends (61 percent of guys, compared to 76 percent of women), while others threw themselves into work (41 percent of men, compared to 44 percent of women). Another 24 percent of men said they treat themselves post-breakup (Xbox, anyone?), while 15 percent admitted to comfort eating. Luckily, only 14 percent of guys consoled themselves with casual sex and even fewer sought revenge against their ex. So, you know, silver lining.

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The only big discrepancy between the genders was in terms of grieving post-breakup, with 54 percent of women and only 34 percent of men doing it. Maybe it’s true that men cope differently, or maybe they’re just not keen on admitting that ice cream and retail therapy are totally signs of grieving. The bottom line: It may seem like your ex is completely over it, but there’s a good chance he dealt with things the same way you did—by turning to friends, work, and pizza.

MORE: How to Get Over a Breakup the Healthy Way

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