ADVERTISEMENT

Committing to a relationship with someone means you're putting your heart into their hands and letting them decide what to do with it. If you're lucky, they will nurture it and the two of you will form a connection like no other. But they might break it, too. Which is why the people we love the most are the ones that can make us the maddest, too.

A breakup or divorce can be one of the most stressful and emotional experiences in our lives. The (abrupt) end of a relationship can turn our whole world upside down and trigger all sorts of painful and unsettling emotions. Like a burning desire for revenge.

We at Bored Panda compiled a list of vivid examples to show you what things lovers are capable of if their (ex) partners hurt them badly enough. They may not guarantee a path toward a healthy recovery, but everyone has their own way of coping.

To get a better understanding of these actions and the feelings that caused them, we contacted psychotherapist, writer, and consultant, Kaytee Gillis.

"Stories of people getting revenge for feeling betrayed or wronged in relationships fill movie scripts, and the behaviors are even encouraged and laughed at in many social groups," Gillis, who has a deep passion for helping survivors of traumatic relationships — whether familial or romantic — told Bored Panda.

"One famous song even boasts lyrics about smashing headlights and slicing someone's tires for cheating. Although music is an expressive art form [and it is] most likely not a true story, it shines a light on behaviors that many excuse. And while it might be normal to want to get revenge over being wronged, actually taking action to do that can quickly turn into unhealthy behaviors, or even abuse."

#3

Grandma Put A Magazine Cut Out Of Leonardo Dicaprio Over Her Late (Not So Nice) Husband's Face. The 80-Year-Old's Version Of Photoshop

Grandma Put A Magazine Cut Out Of Leonardo Dicaprio Over Her Late (Not So Nice) Husband's Face. The 80-Year-Old's Version Of Photoshop

JoshPatson Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#4

Savage Evil Genius Revenge On Cheating Ex

Savage Evil Genius Revenge On Cheating Ex

KieranMark Report

Gillis, the author of It's Not "High Conflict" It's Post-Separation Abuse, thinks that being hurt after the ending of a relationship is normal.

"If the person wronged you somehow, such as breaking your heart, ghosting you or cheating, it can [even] feel devastating," she said.

"But when pain and anger turn into behaviors that put another person's safety or livelihood at risk, this is abusive and is never a good way to cope with the pain of a breakup."

#5

Ex-Girlfriend Gets Revenge

Ex-Girlfriend Gets Revenge

TheMehr Report

The psychotherapist said that destroying property, spreading rumors as an attempt to harm or discredit someone, keeping the children away from them, or boasting about getting them fired from their job are all common ways that people try to get revenge on an ex.

ADVERTISEMENT

"However, this form of revenge is what mental health clinicians refer to as post-separation abuse, or abuse that takes place after a relationship ends. Revenge is abusive, and putting someone's safety at risk is never okay, and it is never funny," Gillis emphasized.

ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Angry Girl At My School Posted These All Around Campus, I Spotted 11 On My Walk To The Library This Morning

Angry Girl At My School Posted These All Around Campus, I Spotted 11 On My Walk To The Library This Morning

reddit.com Report

#10

Came Across A 10-Year-Old Photo That Had My Brother's Ex-Wife In It And My Ex In It. Instead Of Deleting It I ā€œFixedā€ It

Came Across A 10-Year-Old Photo That Had My Brother's Ex-Wife In It And My Ex In It. Instead Of Deleting It I ā€œFixedā€ It

gknick Report

#11

Found Out My Girlfriend Is Cheating On Me. Giving Her This Card Tonight At My Birthday Dinner

Found Out My Girlfriend Is Cheating On Me. Giving Her This Card Tonight At My Birthday Dinner

reddit.com Report

Knowing how to break up could possibly remedy some of the emotions that lead to the extreme lengths that Gillis has mentioned. And while it's not easy for anyone to be good at it, teens are particularly bad at ending things, and growing up online has made it worse.

ADVERTISEMENT

Though most teens think the best way to break up is in person, 37 percent of them consider a text breakup at least moderately acceptable and 1 in 4 thinks it's okay to do the job by simply changing your social media status to "single."

That's according to a Pew Research Center report that came out in 2015, five years before the pandemic sent everyone's social lives, and so much else, even further into cyberspace.

#12

Educated Ex

Educated Ex

placelikethis Report

#13

Woman Confesses To Facebook Her Successful Plan Of Catching Her Husband Cheating On Her With Her Best Friend

Woman Confesses To Facebook Her Successful Plan Of Catching Her Husband Cheating On Her With Her Best Friend

m_chellen Report

#14

You Know How Mad You Got To Be To Carry A Refrigerator

You Know How Mad You Got To Be To Carry A Refrigerator

karlousm Report

Add photo comments
POST
Captain Kyra
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most refrigerators are not light. I need to know more about how he is lifting this

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#15

Best Wishes To You, Her And Your Baby. Love, Your Wife

Best Wishes To You, Her And Your Baby. Love, Your Wife

kavien Report

Add photo comments
POST
Bobby
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So the toledo bend area(Texas) has a 409 area code. I think that's funny cause toledo (ohio) has 419

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

"If you feel you must get revenge, it is important to take time and self-reflect on why this is," Gillis said. "Is it to 'get back at' someone who wronged you?"

ADVERTISEMENT

"Recognize that these feelings themselves are not abnormal, and have compassion for the part of you that feels wronged, but do not take action."

#16

Guy Gets Cheated On By His Long-Time Girlfriend And Decides To Revenge

Guy Gets Cheated On By His Long-Time Girlfriend And Decides To Revenge

kaijuno Report

See Also on Bored Panda
#17

Spotted This Sign Driving Past. Handled It Well

Spotted This Sign Driving Past. Handled It Well

KJAYS Report

#18

I Bet Thereā€™s A Dude Sitting With Just Salt And Pepper In His Cubbard Right Now Wishing He Had That Old Bay I Snatched Back

I Bet Thereā€™s A Dude Sitting With Just Salt And Pepper In His Cubbard Right Now Wishing He Had That Old Bay I Snatched Back

deelalz Report

"It is okay, and even encouraged, to vent about that person to your friends, family, and support system. Write about them in your journal. But do not post publicly on social media, as this will make you look immature and vindictive."

"And, as always, remember that any acts of violence or abuse are illegal, and could result in fines, imprisonment, and will obviously make you look vindictive and abusive. Instead, seek mental health support to help you through this time if you feel that you are going to take action to harm someone out of revenge," the psychotherapist said.

ADVERTISEMENT
#21

The New Cold War

The New Cold War

YoungTiempo Report

Add photo comments
POST
Nadine Khazaka
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They always say it's the kids who suffer the most, nobody thinks about the innocent dads.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#22

Best Use For Ex-Wife's Wedding Dress. Snow Camo

Best Use For Ex-Wife's Wedding Dress. Snow Camo

ticktock44 Report

#23

When Love Is Over

When Love Is Over

recklessbehav Report

#24

My Friend Decided To Cover Up The Tattoo Of His Ex Wife

My Friend Decided To Cover Up The Tattoo Of His Ex Wife

SomeJagaloon Report

#25

Emotional Ex Eviscerates Estate With Eyeshadow

Emotional Ex Eviscerates Estate With Eyeshadow

Sazley Report

Add photo comments
POST
Tabitha
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I work as a paralegal in a family law office. DO. NOT. DO. THIS. If the husband hires an attorney, they will force you to pay for that sh*t you destroyed or even file criminal charges against you. That will only hurt you in the long run because you could have gotten money from the sale of the house. Not it will take THOUSANDS to repair and you may not sell the house for years.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

While Preparing For My Garage Sale, I Found A Pendant My Ex Gave Me... I Decided To Be A Little Creative With Selling It

While Preparing For My Garage Sale, I Found A Pendant My Ex Gave Me... I Decided To Be A Little Creative With Selling It

PatriarchVespa Report

See Also on Bored Panda
#27

My Friend's Girlfriend Moved Out And Took Everything, Including The Drawer Handles

My Friend's Girlfriend Moved Out And Took Everything, Including The Drawer Handles

whatcanieattoday Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#29

A Japanese Woman Discovered Her Boyfriend Was Cheating, So She Gathered All His Apple Devices And Dumped Them Into A Tub Full Of Water

A Japanese Woman Discovered Her Boyfriend Was Cheating, So She Gathered All His Apple Devices And Dumped Them Into A Tub Full Of Water

potetosarada000 Report

#30

My Ex Sent Me A Postcard

My Ex Sent Me A Postcard

ronlechler Report

Add photo comments
POST
Bobby
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've got an ex I'm still on really good terms with. I can either of us sending this to the other and whoever got it laughing

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Note: this post originally had 70 images. Itā€™s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.