Can't Stop Thinking About Ex

Culture Sex Relationships

Hi Justin, Thanks for making such and thoughtful and insightful podcast. I just saw your message, and I have a Q that you may be able to use. Which is - why, now that I’m in a healthy and supportive relationship (for a couple of years now) do I still feel hurt, angry, confused etc. about an ex that I dated for only a few months, over three years ago? Someone who wasn’t very supportive and ended up letting me down during a difficult period in my life. I thought I’d moved past these feelings, and feel very content and loved in my relationship now. But every now and then I hear a bit of news about this ex, who moves in vaguely the same circles, and old painful feelings seem to come back up and are difficult to shake off. I don’t want to get back with this person at all, but I do fantasise about them reaching out to apologise to me, and what I would say back. I also imagine how their life has fallen apart without me (!) and any news that contradicts that narrative really bothers me. I have a good therapist who I’ve talked to a lot about this, but the thoughts and feelings are still there. Why is it taking so long to move past this? Thanks Justin! I’m sorry to hear this, it does sound like tough stuff. Feeling hurt, angry, confused are tough emotions and I’m sure a lot of us in the CSR assemblage will have some identification with your situation - I know I do. There's more of a fulsome written summary of the response here at the Patreon version https://www.patreon.com/posts/104580350 https://justinhancock.co.uk/#coaching