Heartwarming Video Shows Impact of Sister’s Support After Breakup

A video on TikTok has gone viral for its heartwarming display of a universal truth: support helps us heal.

In the clip, posted by Sam Bella (@thetravelcrush), she and her sister sit outside of a cafe chatting. The caption reads: “To the girl who let me talk about the same situation 5406 times until I got over it.” Since the video was posted on February 26, it has garnered over 635,000 views and over 79,000 likes. Only 12 seconds long, the footage captures the casual, everyday support offered by one’s closest friends and family.

Reflecting on a Breakup Might Hurt But It Does Help

First things first: breakups are painful, and science can prove it.

A study in the Journal of Neuropsychology showed that romantic rejection can “cause a profound sense of loss and negative effect.” This leads sometimes to clinical depression and even violent behavior towards oneself or others.

The study authors found that the experience of romantic rejection involves similar neural activities to cocaine addiction; namely, the reward systems in our brains related to gain and loss. This is why feelings and behaviors to do with romantic rejection in a breakup can be difficult to control.

So, how do we cope?

A study in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science found that, in line with Sam’s video, reflecting on a breakup may actually accelerate the healing process.

The study gathered over 200 young people who recently endured heartbreak. Half of them were to meet with researchers regularly over nine weeks to answer questions about their breakup, while the others had to complete surveys only at the beginning and end of the study.

The first group–those who had the opportunity to discuss their breakup regularly with others–experienced healthier self-concept at the end of the nine weeks.

The importance of having a place to process a romantic rejection or breakup, the authors say, is paramount for “self-concept reorganization”, an important precursor to less breakup-related turmoil and loneliness.

Sam’s video, then, highlights this very process: seemingly simple, but scientifically crucial to healing.

The short clip resonated with viewers reflecting either on how their support helped someone else heal from a breakup, or how others’ aid helped them. Indeed, many viewers said the most impactful thing a sister or friend can do is listen.

“That’s the biggest thing I learned. They need to process it and sometimes hit rock bottom before they’re ready to move on. You just gotta be there,” @sunnydee321 wrote.

“Sometimes you just need to talk about it til it no longer hurts,” @miss_leslie330 posted.