‘I was more heartbroken after Uday Chopra’: Tanishaa Mukerji opens up about past relationships; how to know if breakup grief needs professional help

Despite the challenges, she shared that she tries to remain optimistic through it all. “I’m the kind of person who always looks at the bright side of things… Whatever happens, happens for the good. I enjoy the feeling of falling in love and I cherish the experiences it brings,” she mentioned.

When asked how she copes during difficult times, Tanishaa credited her mother, veteran actor Tanuja, for being her pillar of strength. She added that she doesn’t often lean on friends for professional advice since very few truly understand the complexities of her work.

For the unversed, Tanishaa worked with Uday Chopra in the 2005 film Neal ‘n’ Nikki. The actor met Armaan Kohli during her stint on Bigg Boss 7.

How to tell if post-breakup grief is normal or a sign you may need professional help

“Heartbreak is a deeply human experience, and grieving after a breakup is natural. In the early stages, sadness, loss of appetite, disrupted sleep, and preoccupation with the person are all part of the psyche’s attempt to process attachment loss,” notes psychologist Rasshi Gurnani in a conversation with indianexpress.com.

But when the pain turns into prolonged hopelessness, emotional numbness, or patterns of withdrawal that interfere with daily functioning, she says, it shifts into the territory of psychological struggle. “That’s when professional support becomes vital—not because the person is ‘weak,’ but because the grieving process has become stuck and needs gentle guidance to move forward.”

Can a positive outlook truly help someone heal from heartbreak?

Gurnani says that looking at the bright side can be a powerful coping mechanism because it activates hope and resilience, allowing the mind to create meaning even in loss. However, psychology reminds us that positivity can sometimes become “toxic positivity” when it denies the validity of raw feelings like anger, grief, or despair. Healing requires integration, not avoidance. 

“A truly positive outlook is one that allows both the light and the shadow to coexist—feeling the pain fully, while still trusting that it will not define one’s future. Suppressed emotions often resurface in anxiety or self-sabotaging patterns, whereas acknowledged emotions eventually soften and heal,” says the expert. 

Importance of a steady support system

The role of a steady support system during heartbreak is invaluable. Attachment theory shows that humans regulate distress more effectively when they feel securely held, whether through family, friends, or a trusted community. 

“Yet not everyone has this built-in network. For those who don’t, seeking connection through therapy, peer groups, or even meaningful online communities can act as an alternative support. Self-soothing practices — journaling, mindfulness, physical activity — also help individuals build what psychologists call ‘internal secure attachment,’ a self-generated sense of safety that strengthens resilience over time,” concludes Gurnani.