Entertainment

9 Ways To Cope With Zayn Malik's Sudden Departure From One Direction

by Liz Rae

I’m not gonna lie, I had no idea who Zayn Malik was until just this week. I suppose it doesn’t help that I’m not an obsessed, 15-year-old girl who loves One Direction.

But, as with any media news, I was intrigued to find out who this tearjerking guy was to cause such an Internet stir.

To my surprise, there seems to be a lot of support online for those mourning the loss of Zayn, and I have taken a lot of it to heart.

Like with any loss, we should always have the support we need, and I hope these suggestions help you get past your stages of mourning the star:

1. Reminisce the old times

Think back to when Zayn was performing. Watch his old videos. Remind yourself of what the band was once like.

2. Find a support group

Apparently, there are tons of self-help support groups for teens. Find one that allows you to express your thoughts and share how Zayn's departure is affecting your life.

3. Learn about the true Zayn

Could Zayn sing? Or, was he just auto-tuned? In today's world, you never know if singers truly possess some sort of talent.

Finding the truth about him will help you move forward in your path to recovery.

4. Discover another addiction

I was once-obsessed with Lance Bass, and when I found out he was gay, I was devastated because I knew I would never have a real shot at being with him. But, I had to continue on with my life, so I found a new passion: Leonardio DiCaprio.

Granted, Leo isn't in the same industry, he distracted me from Lance.

There are plenty of other men out there; the key is to find the one who will help you move on.

5. Learn the beauty of the other members of One Direction

I’m not sure what their names are, but I’m sure they are just as talented as Zayn. Research them; watch their videos; follow them on Twitter.

I mean, they didn’t leave you the way Zayn did, right?

6. Take down the posters

As with any breakup or loss, after a certain period of time, it is best to just remove the photos. They will only remind you of the way Zayn left.

He clearly didn’t care about your love for his talent, so you should stop caring about him. Replace his posters with the other band members.

7. Cry it out

At some point, you will need to cry. Don’t be afraid to do so. Everyone cries. I cried when I found out Justin Timberlake wanted to go his separate ways from 'N Sync.

It takes time. Let yourself understand why you need to cry and let it happen.

Who knows? Maybe Zayn will still continue to create music. It will still be different than before, but it may also be for the best.

8. Understand your emotions

Why are you feeling the way you're feeling? Is it because the group won't be the same?

Is it because Zayn may have had an affair, and secretly, you’re blaming his departure on that? Is it because he may never sing again?

Whatever the reason, talk it out with someone. Take the time to figure out why you are feeling the way you are feeling and why Zayn is more important than other things in your life, like school exams or bills.

9. Most importantly, continue on with life

Your life will go on. You will still have never met Zayn; the band will perform without him; some other attractive British man will become famous, and you’ll begin to obsess over him.

Remind yourself that you will get past this, and life will, somehow, move forward.

Overall, please do not forget Zayn is just a celebrity and may end up like all of the other crazy ones out there. Don’t forget about the other things happening in your life just because of Zayn.

He will always be in your heart; he just may never be in One Direction again.