---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is the weird aftermath, when it is…"
description: "\"“This is the weird aftermath, when it is not exactly over, and yet you have given it up. You go back and forth in your head, often, about giving it up...."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/337/marya-hornbacher-2109_getting-used_this-is-the-weird-aftermath-when-it-is-n_1691437.jpg"
---

#  This is the weird aftermath, when it is not exactly over…

![“This is the weird aftermath, when it is not exactly over, and yet you have given it up. You go back and forth in your head, often, about giving it up. It’s hard to understand, when you are sitting there in your chair, having breakfast or whatever, that giving it up is stronger than holding on…” quote by Marya Hornbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/337/marya-hornbacher-2109_getting-used_this-is-the-weird-aftermath-when-it-is-n_1691437.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/337/marya-hornbacher-2109_getting-used_this-is-the-weird-aftermath-when-it-is-n_1691437.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/337/marya-hornbacher-2109_getting-used_this-is-the-weird-aftermath-when-it-is-n_1691437.jpg)

> ““This is the weird aftermath, when it is not exactly over, and yet you have given it up. You go back and forth in your head, often, about giving it up. It’s hard to understand, when you are sitting there in your chair, having breakfast or whatever, that giving it up is stronger than holding on, that “letting yourself go” could mean you have succeeded rather than failed. You eat your goddamn Cheerios and bicker with the bitch in your head that keeps telling you you’re fat and weak: Shut up, you say, I’m busy, leave me alone. When she leaves you alone, there’s a silence and a solitude that will take some getting used to. You will miss her sometimes...There is, in the end, the letting go.””

[Marya Hornbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-hornbacher/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote describes the paradox of feeling both relief and loss after ending a struggle, and the lingering inner critic that persists even when the external battle is over.

**In simple terms:** Letting go can feel both freeing and unsettling, with inner doubts lingering.

Key Takeaway

Accept the silence and learn to be comfortable with yourself.

Themes

self‑acceptance inner conflict letting go mental health

Mood

reflective somber hopeful

Type

personal psychological inspirational

When to use this quote

- recovering from addiction
- ending a toxic relationship
- post‑career transition
- dealing with chronic illness

Key Concepts

psychology self‑compassion cognitive dissonance

Questions to Reflect On

- What does the “silence” feel like after you stop fighting?
- How can you quiet the inner voice that labels you as weak?

A Different Perspective

The inner critic may dominate, making the peace fragile and temporary.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude/)

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