I've very little to add to all the above good points, but when I've been depressed about a broken relationship, I've written a song or songs about it, then sung them and sung them in private until all the feeling has been sung out of them. I then throw them away. Those songs will never ever become public, they're my personal therapy and for no other ears.

I would also agree that time does heal all wounds. I find it usually takes a good twelve months before I'm back to normality, and different people probably have their own "usual" periods. With each broken relationship, though, I learn better how to cope - I've done it before, I can do it again. Remember back to previous breakups, identify the things that helped you to recover then, and apply those things again, plus other similar things. Time does its healing bit whether you're thinking about it or not, and I find it's easier all round if I think about it as little as possible. Do the physical exercises and get out as much as you can, see friends as much as you can, do things which will take your mind off it, however temporarily.

I would also add that until you are truly over one relationship, you cannot deal honestly with another. Stay away from new relationships until you are absolutely certain that the demons of this one have skidaddled back to wherever demons go. It is totally unfair to any new potential partner to still be grieving about the previous one.

I have been through the apathy of not being able to face going out, but I know if I'm able to make the (almost superhuman) effort, I do feel a lot better by going out. My way of getting out in those situations was to go through the motions of getting ready, going out the door, and getting to my destination, without thinking about it, just working on automatic pilot, only one step at a time, never consciously thinking beyond the next thirty seconds. Like you, there were times I didn't make it, but over time, and with effort, I was able to beat it more times than it was able to beat me.

Stick with it, Brett, you will come through in time.