Please help me manage this!

[bewilderedhedgehog]

Hi - I split up with my partner earlier this week, due to significant political differences. For context we are both older, adult children, don't live together. I am so sad. He is a good person, and kind and I miss him so much. I do know that I will get through this, but it is like a huge cloud has settled on me, and I don't know where to start and how to breathe if that makes sense?

I would allow yourself some time to be sad and really feel your feelings for a couple of weeks or more and then make steps to move on.

Exactly what previous poster said.
It's normal to feel this way. Allow yourself time to feel like a mess. It's okay, it's normal and it won't last forever.
Whenever you're feeling your emotions, you're processing and healing. Every emotion needs to be felt. So whenever you feel bad, just know you're working away on the mountain of emotions you still have left to process, one at a time. It may not seem like it, but every time you get one step closer to feeling better.

Time and allow yourself to grieve. Do you mind me asking why you split due to political opinions? DP and I are quite far apart on the political spectrum but have agreed to not discuss our views with each other or stop any conversation that has the potential to become heated

Well done

Very wise! We had followed the same approach most of the time, but in the end it drove a wedge between us sadly which I think is not recoverable. I think/hope we will remain friends, but not just yet as I think it will be too difficult to manage that transition without some time first. But there is this huge space in my life. I have family and friends, but that space used to be us and now there is no us, only me!

Thank you to everyone for your comments - they are helpful and I know I will get through it. It has made me feel a bit better just to have shared it. And also writing it down makes it real, when I am still at that stage where I wake up and then remember that everything has changed and relive a bit of it every morning. I don't know if he is sad or not. But I won't be asking - it wouldn't help either of us.

Are you sure you are making the right choice? I live by the adage "I may not agree with what you say but defend your right to say it". I think I am a similar age to you and it seems a bit extreme to end a relationship over differing views. If indeed that's all it is.

However, I will butt out if I have it wrong. Sorry OP, I feel for you as it's so hard to find a decent partner later in life

It's OK to feel sad and to miss someone, and for it still to be right to end things.

Be kind to yourself OP, and don't feel bad about feeling bad.