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  • kateelizabeth
    Junior Member
    • Jul 2011
    • 2

    When your ex moves on

    My ex boyfriend and I have been on and off for about 10 months. He was my first serious relationship but we did have a lot of problems. Our relationship was very raw, real and complicated a lot. I don't want to get into too much detail cause I don't want my post to be book length long. But it basically came down to him having commitment issues, or what I think were commitment issues. He was very hot and cold and, for some reason, I always allowed it. Every time he got wishy washy I was there when he wanted to come back. When we had our good times they were perfect but there was also no other man that made me cry quite like he did. I really thought I loved him, so I guess that's why I stayed, I'm not even sure anymore when I look back on it. But anyway.

    We broke up a little over a month ago. Well, he did the breaking up. Claiming he just "wasn't feeling happy anymore". There was a lot of bad going on in his life so I didn't think twice when he just needed space. He just told me with everything going on he just didn't feel like he could give me what I wanted right now. But he truly cares about me he just needed time. It hurt, but I understood.

    About 10 days into our break up I started receiving late night texts & calls. I ignored them. I knew that if he wanted to make this work it wouldn't be through late night lonely, drunk calls. A couple days later he called me at a normal hour on a Friday. He just told me he's lonely, he wants to see me, and he's sorry. For the first time I didn't jump in my car and rush over to see him. I talked to him on the phone and I just asked him "Why?" The weight of everything he put me through just came crashing. I told him how much him throwing me away and picking me back up when he feels like it has hurt me so much. I told him he broke my heart. His response was that he didn't even know he was doing anything wrong. And even though I was sitting there crying and just coming out with everything, I don't think he ever realized what he did. So for the first time in our relationship... I told him no. I realized that if he didn't think he was doing anything wrong that nothing was going to change and in a month later I'd be tossed aside when he "wanted space". And I just couldn't allow myself to sign up for that hurt again. A couple days later I texted him, I was just really missing him. We had this joke because we both worked in sales and we'd always call each other up at the end of the day and tell funny customer stories to each other. So I said "When something funny happens I wanna tell you". I got nothing back.

    Two weeks passed and I wasn't hearing anything from him and I wasn't going to reach out. I thought that maybe, just maybe, he was working on himself. I started to not focus on him and feel okay again. I was going out with friends and keeping busy with work. I went on vacation with a couple of my girlfriends and for a whole weekend he didn't even cross my mind. I was feeling like my old self again and it felt really really good. Then.. I logged onto facebook yesterday and there it was on my newsfeed. He was in a new relationship. Here I am thinking he's realized what he's done to me and he's going to come back and fight for me. I was so hopeful. The past couple weeks of happiness went down the drain. I didn't know what to feel. It was just the fact that, when I thought he was missing me he was actually getting over me. And that he just talked to me 2 weeks ago, telling me he missed me, and just like that he was seeing someone new. It's only been about a day since I saw it and I can't get it out of my head. The breakup wound feels completely new. I blocked him on facebook so I couldn't see it anymore, or obsess over it.

    But my whole question, or whatever, is how exactly are you suppose to cope with this? This is my first real relationship and I've never had this happen before and I just am feeling so lost. I can only hear my girlfriends tell me so many times that he misses me and this is his way of coping that he lost me, so much before I realize it isn't true. I just need real opinions and real advice.
  • Ashlee T.
    Veteran Member
    • Dec 2008
    • 6412

    This type of situation is very hurtful and I can understand why you feel the way you do.

    You should never have to be at someones beck and call just to keep them. He wanted to keep you on the hook (and still will if you let him). He told you he didn't feel happy, but yet would call you late at night, etc which was his way of saying "I'm not really happy with you, don't want to be tied down to you, but don't want to be totally alone either."

    You are not dispensable. A man who makes you feel that way, is no man for you.

    It will be hard...you'll have your highs and lows through this, but CEASE any contact with him PERIOD. If he contacts you, do not respond for any reason. It is truly the only way you'll move on with your life and feel free from that burden. Delete him from your Facebook. Let him be a part of your past. If you truly want to get past this, take the steps necessary to make it happen. Don't focus on finding a new guy, focus on discovering a new you. Being single very often, a blessing.
    "Be what you're looking for."

    Comment

    • UnitedLegion
      Junior Member
      • Jul 2011
      • 8

      Originally posted by Beautiful Disaster
      CEASE any contact with him PERIOD. If he contacts you, do not respond for any reason. It is truly the only way you'll move on with your life and feel free from that burden.
      This.

      Comment

      • lizzardb63
        Veteran Member
        • Aug 2010
        • 1493

        Totally agree. Give YOURSELF some space and don't get into contact with him. It will only remind you of him. When my boyfriend and I broke up, I told him I couldn't talk to him and would contact him when I feel ready. It was the one thing that saved me...NO CONTACT. It allowed my wounds to heal and for me to find myself again. Think about the fun times you had with your friends recently. You can have those times all the time now!

        Comment

        • Little
          • Feb 2007
          • 4329

          I applaud you on your healthy reaction to this breakup so far! I don't know that I could have been so mature or see through his drunk calls.
          It seems you are going about this in the best way possible. You're barring yourself from obsessing over it too much, ignoring his inappropriate attempts to contact, etc. It's normal to feel alienated and upset when you find out your ex is moving on ... even if you were moving on at the same rate, you'd probably still feel upset.
          <center><i>Nature gives us shapeless shapes,<br>Clouds and waves and flame,<br>But human expectation is that love remains the same,<br>And when it doesn’t, we point our fingers and blame.</i><br><a href="http://www.womens-health.com/boards/register.php">Register</a>|<a href="http://www.womens-health.com/boards/members/little.html">Contact Admin</a>|<a href="mailto:support*womens-health.com?subject=Forum Contact">Email Admin</a></center>

          Comment

          • Crystalblue
            Veteran Member
            • Apr 2011
            • 675

            You're handling this beautifully, making emotionally healthy decisions. You did a great job saying, "No, you can't toss me away and come back to pick me back up when you feel like it!" That's the best thing for you. You deserve someone you knows your value as you do.

            Ignoring the texts, and phone calls, blocking him on facebook, all of that says you're a smart, strong, and brave person that knows they could never be happy being treated less. Don't forget that while you're healing.

            As far as being hurt by him moving on, if he's already seeing someone else, chances are that he isn't moving forward, but sideways. He's going to do the same thing and have the same problems.

            Comment

            • kateelizabeth
              Junior Member
              • Jul 2011
              • 2

              Thank you guys so much for being so sweet! I'm feeling better already, I think it was the initial shock and the fact that it all just seemed SO soon. But I realized, I'll be okay and I'll find someone that makes me happy again.

              Comment

              • KMonte85
                Veteran Member
                • Oct 2009
                • 3303

                Originally posted by kateelizabeth
                Thank you guys so much for being so sweet! I'm feeling better already, I think it was the initial shock and the fact that it all just seemed SO soon. But I realized, I'll be okay and I'll find someone that makes me happy again.
                Good for you kate, you're seeing that you don't need that sort of drama in your life! You are a good person and deserve to be treated with love and respect.

                We are the keepers of our own happiness in life. Take this time to make YOURSELF happy, and worry about finding that perfect compliment to your already quite content life at a later time

                Comment

                • lissax
                  Junior Member
                  • Jun 2011
                  • 7

                  Even if you're feeling better this could help; more than likely all this new relationship is a rebound. If he was just contacting you 2 weeks ago this girl is nothing more then the person who's helping him get through feeling lonely. I'm not saying this though to make it sound like he will come back because he sounds like a guy you should keep in your past. I'm saying it because you're obviously still on his mind and this new "relationship" isn't anything special. And sometimes just hearing that can make it feel a whole lot better.

                  Comment

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