Staring out the window. Crying in the shower. Sitting, miserable, in a club as everyone around you dances the night away. The portrayal of heartbreak in pop culture is instantly recognisable. While we don’t all turn to scream-singing All By Myself à la Bridget Jones, the drama and emotion behind it is certainly real.

Research from eHarmony suggests that we’ll go through four break-ups within our lifetimes, with the first one happening at the age of 20. Be it a romantic partner, friend or even family member, break-ups bring with them the kind of pain that creeps in slowly, then hits you all at once, leaving you to wonder if you’ll ever feel ‘right’ again.

It leaves a lasting impact on us, too. eHarmony also found that a difficult parting has prevented more than a quarter of singles from getting into another relationship. Because here’s the thing: it’s not just a relationship that’s being said goodbye to, it’s a whole future filled with expectations and hopes. Beyond separating from the person, you’re also walking away from the possibilities of the life that you could have shared together.

These are the 7 stages of emotion every person goes through after a break-up, according to the experts