Signs You’ve Not Moved On From Your Ex

Odette Odendaal
2 years ago

You message them when you’re drunk

Image Source: BuzzFeed News

We can all relate to this one…you’ve had a few drinks and the bravery has kicked in so you decide to bite the bullet and message your ex. We can guarantee you will feel mortified about this in the morning but it felt like a good idea at the time - most things do when you’re drunk!
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You imagine scenarios of getting back together

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This has to be the most worrying sign you are not over your ex…if you keep picturing scenarios of you getting back together and romanticising a future with them. If these thoughts are still running through your mind, you need a serious intervention to get over the break up.
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You are way too casual about your breakup

Image Source: Flipboard

Breaking up with your partner isn’t easy and it can take some people a long time to emotionally recover from the ordeal. So, if you find yourself being way too brash about your recent breakup and acting like you don’t care, you’re probably in denial.
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They still have some of your belongings

Image Source: Ex Boyfriend Recovery

One of the first things you should do after breaking up with your partner is exchange all belongings so you avoid having to keep in contact with them or meeting up in the near future to collect your things. So if you have left possessions at your partners house, it was probably on purpose…
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You’re going on too many wild nights out

Image Source: VICE

Going on crazy nights out with your friends is all part of the healing process after a relationship break up. However, too many of these nights could be a negative sign you are struggling to move on from your ex by using partying to distract yourself.
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You keep shutting down potential new romantic interests 

Image Source: Femina.in

Everyone moves on at a different pace after a break up, but if you find yourself turning down every opportunity to meet someone new or rejecting potential romantic interests, it is probably because you’re still not over your ex. Moving on is the final step of letting go, so make your move!
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You keep stalking new people they may be romantically linked to

Image Source: Insider

When you’re still not over your ex, it is easy to become obsessed with any new potential romantic interests they might have. It might be from a picture they were tagged in or the new person they are following on social media, but you can’t help but keep stalking them!
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You lie to your friends about still being in contact with them

Image Source: Irish News

If you have to lie to your friends about anything, you know there is a good reason behind it…you know what you’re doing is a bad idea but you don’t want to hear the judgement from your level-headed besties. Just be warned, they will probably be right in the end!
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You are questioning your self-worth

Image Source: Adobe Stock

If you’ve found yourself doubting your self-worth and experiencing periods of low self-esteem, you are probably still pining over your ex. This is because you might be questioning why the relationship ended or if you weren’t enough for them, which can make it hard to let go.
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You haven’t got rid of their things 

Image Source: Daisykins

Do you keep finding random items that belonged to your ex-partner dotted around your place, like old hoodies or odd socks? If you are still clinging on to these possessions and don’t immediately throw them in the bin, you probably haven’t moved on from them yet.
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You compare all your new dates to them

Image Source: Evan Marc Katz

You’ve been trying your best to move on from your last relationship by going on dates with new people…but all you do is compare them to your ex. It feels like nobody is compatible enough and the dates seem boring but this is because you’re not ready to move on.
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You haven’t removed them from social media

Image Source: All Pro Dad

If you haven’t removed your ex from every social media platform, you definitely haven’t move on yet. It is time to cut the cord and stop being constantly reminded about what they are doing. Even if you have stopped following them, you shouldn’t give them access to your life either.
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You keep blocking and unblocking their number

Image Source: PCMag

We’ve all been there when you start to feel brave and decide it is finally time to cut contact and block their number…but then you start wondering if there’s a chance they will try and message or call you, and you decide to unblock them just in case. 
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You rely on them when you feel down

Image Source: Disney News

When we receive bad news or feel low in mood, all we want is to be comforted by the person who knows us best and cares about us. This is why we can’t help but reach out to our ex-partner for emotional support during these times, even though we know we shouldn’t…
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Everything reminds you of them

Image Source: iStock

It can be quite painful when literally EVERYTHING reminds you of your ex…someone wearing a pair of shoes they love, the car they drive or their favourite coffee shop. This stage of the break up definitely proves you are not over them yet, but it will get easier!
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You still call them to 'catch up'

Image Source: Autostockphoto

Keeping in contact with your ex is the worst thing you can do…especially if you’re trying to get over them. We all know you are using any excuse to call them, claiming that you just want to ‘catch up’ or ‘see how they are’. They only way you will move on is by cutting the cord.
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You avoid certain places in case you bump into them

Image Source: GQ

It can be really annoying when some of your favourite places are also your ex-partner’s favourite places…so you go out of your way to purposely avoid them just because of the painful reminders of happier times and the off chance you might bump into them.
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You’re using new people as a rebound

Image Source: Empire Online

If you’re forcing yourself to go on dates and spend time with people even when you are not invested in these new relationships, you are probably using them as a rebound to distract yourself from thinking about your ex. You'd be better off using this time to enjoy your own company!
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You’re drinking more than usual

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A few sociable drinks with friends won’t do you any harm if you are still getting over your break up, but you might want to be careful it doesn’t become a habit if you’ve noticed that you are drinking too much and using alcohol to block out your emotions.
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You keep telling people “we are just friends”

Image Source: The Tab

We all know that you can’t stay friends with your ex after the break up…so if you’re trying to justify staying in contact and meeting up with your ex because you want to ‘remain friends’ then you’re only lying to yourself if you think you over the relationship!
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You keep speaking negatively about them

How to Deal With a Negative SpouseAlthough it is normal to feel sad and angry after breaking up with your partner, the only way to truly get over them is by accepting the situation and holding no bad feelings against your ex. So if you can’t stop feeling heightened negativity towards them, you are probably still clinging on.
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You justify reaching out to them for ‘closure’

Image Source: The List

A lot of people claim they need ‘closure’ from their ex-partner as an excuse to maintain a relationship with them and get in contact at a later stage, even when they know it is a bad idea. If you relationship has come to an end, that is all the closure you need.
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You can’t stop talking about them

Image Source: GetYarn

Do you find yourself constantly bringing up your ex-partner in conversation, using any excuse to mention them in relation to the topic? Well, this is probably a big red warning sign that you are still not over them as you clearly can’t get them off your mind.
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You get emotional when you pass their stop on the tube

Image Source: Daily Mail

If you’re commuting around the city and all of a sudden your feel your stomach drop because you pass the stop where your ex-partner lives, you’re probably still not over them. It might flood back memories of being together or maybe you’re worried they will get on your tube!
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You’ve kept presents from them

Image Source: Glamour

Although your partner probably bought you many beautiful and potentially useful presents over the years, if they hold sentimental meaning then it might be time to get rid of them. The best way to get over your ex-partner is to remove constant reminders of them from your life.
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You are excited to see them at an event

Image Source: Candace Smith Etiquette

If you met your partner through mutual friends or merged your friendship groups during your relationship, it is likely you will have to seen them at important events in the future. However, if this prospect fills you with excitement it is probably a sign you are not over them.
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You haven’t deleted your photos together on Instagram 

Image Source: LoveDevani.com

Instagram photos don’t do much harm, but if you are truly ready to move on it might be best to remove all traces of your ex from social media platforms and start a clean slate. Not only will these photos be a constant reminder of your past life, it might put off potential new partners.
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They are the first person you want to contact when you receive good news

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If you ex-partner played a big part in your life before the relationship ended, you will be used to picking up the phone and sharing good news with them. Breaking up with someone you care about can feel lonely and it may take time before you feel at peace being single.
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You get your mutual friends to dig for information about their life

Image Source: The Record

Do you have a constant craving to find out new information about your ex-partner and hear about what they’re up to? We probably don’t need to tell you that this is a sign you’re not over them…if you want to move on from the relationship, you need to block them out!
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You are comparing yourself to their new partner

Image Source: The Good Men Project

It is always upsetting to hear that your ex-partner has moved on, especially if you haven’t met anyone new yet. If you are still hung up on your ex, you might end up playing the dangerous game of comparing yourself to their new partner and feeling like you weren’t good enough.
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