Why should you follow the "no contact" rule after a breakup?

MJ Acharya

A lot of people ask me, "why should I follow the 'no contact' rule? When do I decide to start it? What does it do for me? What can I hope for it to accomplish in the end?" And I'm all for helping you. So I'm going to try to answer this question as best as I can, given the knowledge I've gained from speaking with literally thousands of broken hearts all around the world.

(These rules apply to BOTH men and women, but since I'm a woman, I wrote it from a woman's POV).

When should I start "no contact"? Start it when you:

  • Call, text or email him relentlessly after the breakup, only to receive no response.

  • Drive by his house and/or work to confront him, or just to catch a glimpse of him.

  • Call his friends and family members to talk about him, only to receive no response, or a cold reception.

  • In addition to these points, begin "no contact" if you do anything in general that makes you feel like a complete fool.

What does following the "no contact" rule do for me?

  • It will help you gain back some of the self-esteem you have lost after repeatedly trying to contact him to no avail.

  • It will give you time to grieve.

  • It will give you time reconnect with, or repair some relationships that you may have neglected while you were part of a "couple."

  • It will give you time to intuitively consider the relationship; the ups, the downs, and ultimately, the demise. A good guide to help you do this is The Breakup Workbook .

What does following the "no contact" rule ultimately accomplish?

  • You'll get your self-esteem back because you won't do things that compromise your dignity.

  • You'll begin to rely on your friends and family - the people that will never leave you. Hopefully, you'll continue to nurture these relationships.

  • You'll learn to accept that the relationship truly is over.

  • You'll be well on your way to moving on and opening yourself up to new people.

However, there is one outcome that is not highly likely, but you never know…your ex may realize what life is like without you and call you to get back together. If this happens:

  • Protect yourself. Don't become a victim of "the booty call." Make sure you are really in a relationship before you sleep with him.

  • Really think about the pro's and con's before you decide to get back together with him. Loneliness is not a good reason to resume a bad relationship.

The "no contact" rule really is hard to follow. You'll have some set-backs for sure, but don't beat yourself up over it. As time goes by, it gets easier, I promise. If you like this article, check out my blog for more breakup recovery advice.

Have you followed the "no contact" rule? What advice would you give to someone who is considering it?