A relationship or marriage coming to an end is similar to a bereavement. It can be helpful to understand what is happening to you when going through break up, and to be able to step back and see that you are not alone, that your experiences are shared by many others, and that there is light at the end of the tunnel!
My own breaking up experiences can be seen here: The 7 Stages of Relationship Breakdown Recovery
My own story is also shared in Shared Stories: My Story