Ananya Panday recently shared a personal way she previously used to cope with heartbreak, and this involved burning photos of her ex. In a recent interview, the actor, who is busy promoting her upcoming film CTRL, revealed how this helped her release frustrations and move on from her past relationships.
She revealed how, over the years, she has taken the more mature route to deal with heartbreak. The Call Me Bae actor told Galatta India, “I don’t do that now, but I have done it. It’s not like I’m the only person on earth who has done this. A lot of people have. It’s a nice way to release your frustration.”
Panday said she now deals with the lows in her life by focusing on personal growth. She advised, “Just deal with it. Nothing is permanent. You will figure it out. It will get better, and knowing that is good enough.”
Why do rituals, like burning photos or removing personal items, help people process and cope with breakups?
The practice of burning an ex’s photos, while seemingly dramatic, reflects a more profound psychological process that many individuals turn to when trying to let go of past relationships. “Rituals like these offer a tangible way to process emotions, providing a sense of closure and control during a period of emotional upheaval,” says Sonal Khangarot, counsellor and psychotherapist, The Answer Room.
Khangarot adds that during a breakup, the human brain reacts as if “it’s in a state of withdrawal from an addiction, causing emotional pain, overthinking, and stress.”
Over time, she states, it adapts and begins to heal. “Symbolic acts like burning photographs and discarding mementos provide an external way to release the emotional pain of a breakup and detach from the former partner. These ritualistic behaviours help bridge the gap between emotional experience and physical reality.”
Breakup parties and divorce celebrations are often seen as letting go of emotional baggage, old memories, and pain tied to the relationship, allowing individuals to step into a new reality and create a fresh start.
The brain craves closure, and these symbolic acts send clear signals that the relationship is over, helping individuals focus on building a new reality. (Source: Freepik)
Psychological mechanisms at play
According to Khangarot, ‘breakup brain’ is a term used to describe the sadness, frustration, anxiety, grief, emotional fog, and obsessive thinking experienced during a breakup. “Engaging in symbolic acts, such as cutting a cake to celebrate the breakup or burning old photos, helps release pent-up emotions and provides relief in the initial stages.”
She continues, “The brain craves closure, and these symbolic acts send clear signals that the relationship is over, helping individuals focus on building a new reality. Additionally, they offer cognitive reappraisal, which provides emotional and mental support, enabling the individual to reshape the meaning of the breakup and move forward in life.”
Potential downsides to relying on such rituals for emotional healing
Khangarot highlights that while rituals provide a way to release pain and offer instant relief, they are not a replacement for emotional processing. If symbolic acts are used to avoid confronting emotions, there’s a high chance those feelings will resurface, leaving the person feeling miserable again.
“It is recommended to combine these rituals with other forms of emotional processing, such as journaling, talking to a loved one, or seeking professional support. This approach promotes true healing rather than simply masking the pain,” she says.
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