The real answer for those curious about “how do mean deal with breakups?” in general is badly. Men often do the worst things they can do when confronted with heartache. They man up, buck up, and move on. Some of them even begin doing things or behaving in a manner that is self destructive rather than face the hurt they are feeling.

What are some of the other differences between the sexes when it comes to “how do men deal with breakups?”

Men almost never address the issue. Even if they recognize the breakup they will rarely if ever sit down and explore the real, underlying reason that the breakup is happening. For this reason, mean often feel as though the breakup is coming from way out in left field and completely unexpected. No matter how many warning signs are there, a man that is content within a relationship often doesn’t feel as though there are any problems.

Those who do acknowledge relationship breakups often go off the deep end so to speak and begin doing things they consider to be manly methods of dealing with pain. These often include drug or alcohol abuse, serial dating and multiple sexual partners in a small amount of time, and things like extreme sports and/or gambling. While these do not seem alarming on their own they also only offer a temporary reprieve for what is bothering men rather than a real solution to their problems.

Depression. If left to their own devices many men would fall into a state of depression after heartbreak. Women may think that men don’t show how they feel. The problem is women don’t know where to look to understand just how much men are hurting. Men don’t often go to share sessions, poetry readings, or group therapy in order to work out how they feel or see healing from problems they aren’t even really sure they have. Women often miss out on the opportunity to discover just how deep those still waters run in many men. When the relationship ends many men suffer from depression. Unfortunately, a depressingly small number of men who suffer from depression ever actually seek treatment for it.

Stress. The stress from a breakup can be brutal. Men often experience this more than women and are less likely to seek treatment—much like depression. Stress can take a physical as well as an emotional toll on those who suffer from it. It’s a good idea to seek help as quickly as possible if stress is suspected.