How to be friends with ex boyfriend


How To Be Friends With Your Ex: Tips & Everything To Consider

Is it a good idea to be friends with your ex?

Yes, it's absolutely possible to be friends with your ex. Whether it's a good idea will depend on the situation and the people involved. Some people are able to have healthy, positive relationships with their exes without any difficulty or complications, whereas others find that trying to stay friends ends up being unnecessarily messy or even painful.

According to licensed marriage therapist Weena Cullins, LCMFT, sometimes two people find they don't work as romantic partners, but there are aspects of their relationship that are still valuable and can be healthily maintained through a friendship.

"Being friends with your ex can be a good idea when other aspects of the relationship were valuable to your growth, development, or life goals," she explains. "If you and your ex identify that you make better business partners, workout buddies, or friends, and you are able to maintain healthy boundaries with each other, then creating an authentic friendship could work. "

She adds that it can be especially beneficial if you and your ex have children together. Though she says friendships aren't necessary for successful co-parenting, it may create an easier environment for both the parents and the kids. "It can also provide increased flexibility with managing schedules, discipline issues, and the general flow of information."

That said, being friends with an ex can sometimes make it harder to successfully move on from the relationship if there are still lingering romantic feelings for each other or if tension arises when you both start dating other people.

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When you can stay friends with an ex:

  • You've taken time to process and accept the end of the romantic relationship.
  • You both have accepted that the relationship is really over (and understand why it happened).
  • You feel like you have emotionally moved on from the relationship, and your ex has, too.
  • You no longer have romantic feelings for each other or want to be in a romantic relationship.
  • Your relationship to each other no longer feels emotionally charged; it feels similar energetically to your other friendships.
  • Both you and your ex can spend time together without it feeling painful, tense, distracting, or inappropriately intimate.
  • You no longer feel attached to, dependent on, or "partnered" with one another. You both have fully separate, independent, private lives.
  • You're both able to maintain appropriate boundaries and manage nostalgic feelings that may come up without falling fully into them.
  • You both feel totally comfortable and happy dating other people, and you authentically want that for each other, too.
  • You have kids together or are in each other's social or professional orbits in some way, and you need to maintain some level of interaction with each other.
  • The friendship adds something positive to both of your lives, whether that's fun, companionship, collaboration, or practicality.

When to cut ties:

  • You're secretly hoping you'll get back together.
  • You still have romantic feelings for your ex, and you're having trouble moving on.
  • You sense (or know) that your ex is not fully over you.
  • You're holding on because you can't imagine dating anyone else or having as strong a connection with anyone else ever again.
  • You're holding on because you are scared or unwilling to untangle your lives from one another and start to live independently.
  • You're holding on because you feel guilty for ending the relationship or feel like you "owe" them your attention in some way.
  • Your ex is occupying your time, energy, or headspace, and it's affecting your ability to date other people or be present in other parts of your life.
  • The idea of them dating someone else makes you feel jealous, uneasy, or upset.
  • Talking to them or spending time together feels painful, tense, distracting, or inappropriately intimate.
  • The friendship feels one-sided, draining, or otherwise unhealthy.
  • You're having trouble maintaining boundaries and keep slipping into old habits from when you were dating.
  •  It just doesn't feel good being friends with them.
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Remember, just because you decide to go no-contact for the time being doesn't mean you can't still care about each other and eventually come together again in the future to nurture a new friendship. Sometimes you just need a little space first.

Can you be friends with an ex you still love?

It's hard to be friends with an ex you still love, but it's possible. For some people, love isn't something that they ever really "take back," even after a romantic relationship has ended. They may continue to love and care deeply about their former partners, though those feelings are no longer tied up with wanting to continue dating. As long as you wholeheartedly accept that the relationship is over and are actively moving on with your life, you can still maintain a friendship with an ex you love.

That said, if the love you have for your ex still feels intense, hot, emotional, or wistful, staying friends may make it hard for you to let go of the relationship and fully move on.

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How long should you wait after the breakup?

There's no set timeline for how long it takes to get over a breakup. For some people, it takes just a few weeks or months, while for others, it can take years. It's important for both people to feel like they've moved on—or are in the process of doing so successfully—before trying to be friends. The friendship shouldn't hinder either person's ability to move on; if it is, it's likely too soon to be in contact.

Setting boundaries with your ex.

It's important to set boundaries with your ex, whether or not you intend to stay friends. Those boundaries may include physical, emotional, time, or energetic boundaries. It's up to each of you to decide what boundaries you need in place to be able to stay friends without it becoming messy, painful, or sliding back into romantic territory.

You may want to consider:

  • How often you communicate with each other
  • How much you emotionally rely on each other
  • How much information you share about your personal lives
  • Whether you're going to share information about your dating lives or new partners
  • Whether you feel comfortable spending time alone together or prefer group hangouts only
  • What level of friendliness is comfortable when you see each other in person
  • How much time or energy you each expect from one another
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As for physical boundaries, some people feel fine with sharing physical intimacy with their exes—including having casual sex—but that varies widely depending on the people and the context. Cullins warns that having a sexual relationship with an ex often blurs the lines dramatically, but it is possible if you both come to an agreement to be friends with benefits with truly no expectations or strings attached.

The key, says Cullins, is making sure that any relationship you have with your ex isn't getting in the way of your ability to move on and (if it's what you want) potentially connect with other people. 

"If you discover that you or your ex are unable to maintain boundaries with each other, then you should cut ties," Cullins says. "If you truly want to move on and find that your ex is still occupying the romantic space that your future partner should have access to, then it's a good idea to cut things off completely with your ex."

Tips for making it work:

1.

Give it time.

Don't try to rush into a friendship you're not ready for. You'll probably need at least a little time and space immediately after the breakup before you can start trying to be friends with your ex. "There has to be enough distance between the old romantic partnership and the new friendship you are trying to build," Cullins explains.

2.

Make sure you're actually over each other.

The key to making a friendship with an ex work is making sure you're both actually over each other. Pay attention to how you feel when you're around your ex—is the energy charged or tense? Is there a certain pull or attraction between you? Are you feeling a rush of butterflies or a wash of sadness when you see their name appear in your texts? Does the idea of them dating someone new fill you with dread? Those are all signs that there may still be feelings there.

Likewise, make sure you're taking seriously any mixed signals or signs that your ex is pretending to be over you. As licensed therapist Ken Page, LCSW, recently told mbg, sometimes people lie to their exes—or to themselves—about how "OK" they are with the breakup, in part because they're just trying to rush the process of moving on. "We want to be resilient," he explains, but it's important to be emotionally honest with ourselves about where we truly are in the stages of getting over a breakup.

3.

Make sure your relationship is truly different now that you're not dating.

"Many exes make the mistake of letting the friendship resemble the romantic relationship too closely. This usually doesn't work in the long run," Cullins says.

Your friendship should not be identical to your former relationship. There should be differences in your dynamic in terms of how integrated your lives are, how much you rely on each other, and how much intimacy you share. If your relationship is pretty much the same as before you broke up, then did you actually break up? Remember: Relationships without labels are still relationships.

4.

Only engage as much as it feels good for both of you.

Friendships should feel good. There's no reason to maintain a friendship with your ex if it isn't actually serving you or adding something positive to your life. If the main feeling you feel whenever you interact with your ex is dread, exhaustion, heartache, or just confusion, you don't need to continue going along with it just because they're your ex. (And an ex who keeps reappearing in your life and drawing you back into their orbit against your will is hoovering you—and that's grounds for just totally cutting things off.)

5.

Accept when you need more space.

While it's definitely possible for exes to be friends, for some people and some situations it just doesn't work.

"Be objective about any cues you notice that indicate that a friendship isn't possible," Cullins says. "For example, if one or both of you become jealous when the other begins dating someone new, then there may not be enough separation between the old relationship and the friendship. "

It's OK to decide you need to take a step back if you realize that it's too emotionally complicated to maintain a friendship with your ex. You can gently explain that you'd like to take some more time and space, whether for now or for the foreseeable future. You can wish each other well and express that you care about your ex, even as you name your need for space and end the friendship.

And remember, even if you're not actively staying "friends" per se, you can still—and should—be cordial and kind to one another anytime your paths do cross. You don't need to actively maintain a friendship with one another to still be caring toward each other.

How to Be Friends With Your Ex (20+ Ways)

So you may be wondering if it’s possible to maintain a friendship with your ex. While it can take some work, there are ways to make sure this relationship stays healthy for both of you.

Here’s how to be friends with your ex, according to experts.

Erica Cramer, LCSW

Clinical Social Work/Therapist, Cobb Psychotherapy NYC

No one gets into a relationship thinking it will end. However, sometimes relationships just aren’t built to last. People break up for various neutral reasons where there isn’t always a victim and villain.

  • They naturally grow apart and discover they want different things.
  • They are no longer attracted to one another, and any semblance of romance disintegrates.
  • They realize that they no longer wanted to be in a committed relationship and would prefer to be single.
  • They discover they may be better off as friends and cannot wrap their heads around how to pursue this relationship.

Is being friends with an ex even a thing? Is it possible? It is and can be.

There are a few things to consider before diving into a platonic relationship with a former lover:

  • Is maintaining a friendship detrimental to your mental health?
  • Will it hinder your ability to move forward with your life?
  • Are you holding onto your ex because you are afraid of change and the unknown?
  • Is maintaining a relationship going to create problems with a new partner, friends, or family?

If you’ve answered no to these questions, you may have a path to a successful friendship.

Lastly, why is it important for you to maintain a friendship? Are you neighbors? Coworkers? Do you share a child(ren), business(es) or animal(s)? Define the reasons you have for keeping this person, in any capacity, in your life.

If it makes sense and you want to pursue a friendship, here are my top tips for a functioning friendship with a lost love:

Let bygones be bygones

Whatever has happened in your romantic relationship is in the past. Being angry or resentful of it in the future will not lead to a successful platonic relationship. Forgive and forget. That is the only way the two of you will be able to move forward with a platonic relationship.

Create sustainable boundaries

Maybe you do not talk about the people you are dating and only inform each other about a new partner when things get serious. Maybe you only hang out in group settings. Maybe you no longer speak to each other’s friends or family.

Whatever the parameters are, this new relationship requires new rules and expectations. Think of what was unsuccessful in the past and how you can improve upon it in the future.

Have a heart-to-heart. Don’t assume new boundaries are in place just because you want them to be. Collaboratively agree on what works best for both of you.

Establish new behavioral patterns

When you were together, you probably texted each other all the time, spent holidays with each other’s families, and were involved in many different aspects of each other’s lives. You are now just friends, and with that comes many changes in the involvement you will have with one another.

This is a new chapter in your relationship, and both of you must be on the same page with how you behave towards one another.

Develop new traditions

When you were dating, you may have had an annual Thanksgiving dinner and were always each other’s plus one to a wedding. You are just friends, and these traditions are obsolete. Maybe now your biggest event is going out for a cup of coffee or on a run together.

You are developing new traditions that make sense for your new relationship.

Be honest about your feelings

Being friends with your ex can be challenging and elicit mixed emotions. At first, you are confident that you can have a completely platonic relationship, but then things begin to get murky. Romantic feelings can suddenly re-emerge, and it is important to constantly touch base with yourself as to how you feel about this person.

If you decide that the friendship is too challenging to maintain, that is okay. If you think that you can keep your feelings in perspective, that is okay too. The important thing is, to be honest with yourself and also attuned to any changes in your ex’s feelings for you.

Modify your expectations

This person may no longer buy you a birthday gift or run random errands for you. You are no longer their main priority or the person they put on a pedestal. You are simply another person in their life that they care about. The nature of the relationship has changed, and so should the expectations.

Make up your mind

Be confident in your decision, and do not allow other people’s opinions to persuade you. Your relationship may have ended poorly, and people question why you are friends with this person.

Do not listen to them. Only you can see certain pieces of the entire puzzle of your relationship. Trust that you know what is best for yourself and act accordingly. Whether or not you remain friends with your ex is ultimately your decision.

If you decide to pursue a friendship with this person, it is crucial to always prioritize yourself and your well-being.

If you have put the above tips into motion and this new dynamic is not working, it is okay to let someone who used to be an important part of your life go. Some people keep exes in their lives because it is safe and familiar. But if you keep things in your life that no longer serve you, there is no space for things that do.

Remember that re-evaluating your relationships is very much like cleaning out your closet. The more old and unnecessary stuff you give away, the more space you have for new and functional items.

Natalie Maximets

Certified Life Transformation Coach, Online Divorce

Nothing lasts forever. Unfortunately, even the most wonderful relationship can end. But when people break up, it’s good to try to do it peacefully, without drama, mutual accusations, and high-profile scandals. Many ex-spouses even maintain friendly relationships after parting. You may have common children, work, acquaintances, or other reasons to remain friends.

In this article, I’ll share some essential tips to help you maintain a cordial relationship with an ex.

Should I let him back in my life?

In fact, only you know the answer to this question. You should let your ex into your life if the relationship (friendship) is comfortable for you. Love and passion pass, but there is so much more in common between people (interests, outlook on life, hobbies, and so on) that can cause them to remain good friends.

Moreover, if you have common children, you are simply obliged to maintain a good relationship with your ex so that they (your children) grow up in a good and healthy atmosphere. Before making your final decision, think about your ex’s personality and temperament.

Answer the question: will your friendship benefit you?

However, you don’t always need to be buddies. If your ex humiliated you, behaved cruelly, showed psychological violence, devalued you, you should forget about this person forever.

Let’s take a look at the basic steps to help you start a friendship after a breakup.

Let your ex know about your feelings

This is not about making a declaration of love, but you should start a new relationship with dialogue. Tell your ex your desires and intentions, and explain why you should stay friends.

But tell the truth, do not try to manipulate or force him to become your buddy. Doing so will only hurt you more. Meet in a neutral place and share your thoughts on future relationships.

Of course, it could be just a text message or a call, but a face-to-face meeting is more acceptable. It will allow you to better communicate your emotions to him.

Don’t rush or force things to happen

It’s okay if your ex-boyfriend is a little confused by your desire to be friends. Everyone’s emotional reactions are different. He may need more time to think about everything that is happening and make a decision.

Don’t force things. Give him time to make a decision. During this period, you should be patient to demonstrate your good intentions. However, if he does not agree to friendship, you should not attack him or force him to change his mind. This will not help you to improve the relationship at all.

Respect each other’s boundaries

Friendship assumes that you respect each other’s opinions and needs. And you have to build boundaries to be friends. Otherwise, it will turn into a toxic relationship.

Related: How to Deal With Someone Who Doesn’t Respect Boundaries

Listen carefully to what your ex says about his feelings. If something is unpleasant for him, do not do it. The same should be the case on your part. Don’t let him do things that don’t suit you. Respecting each other’s boundaries is the path to a satisfying relationship.

For example, if he does not want to explain to you the details of his personal life, stop pestering him with questions about this. Or, if your night calls are not pleasant to him, they should be stopped.

Adjust your behavior to make the relationship more successful

Since you are no longer together, there was something in your behaviors that led to the breakup. Friendship is also a reasonably close relationship but without intimacy and love. Wrong actions can also destroy it.

Try to analyze what turned you off about each other before and what led to the breakup. If you want to build a friendship, you need to adjust your behavior to make the relationship more successful.

Don’t be afraid to share your feelings, worries, or plans

It is challenging to be friends with a person who is not ready to share what is inside them. If you want to build a relationship with your ex, don’t be afraid to share your feelings, worries, or plans.

Perhaps the breakup has changed you, so show him your new facets. Don’t be afraid to be yourself. Openness is talking about what you like or dislike, the absence of fear of being judged or misunderstood. If your ex really wants to remain friends with you, he will accept you for who you are.

Don’t think about the past

Regardless of what happened in the past, do not carry this burden into a new relationship. If your ex broke your heart, forgive him. Let go of these oppressive feelings to live a more manageable and happier life.

All these grievances or what remains unsaid will destroy your new relationship. Forgiveness can be difficult, but it’s worth it, especially if you have minor children. Note that psychotherapy is good at such tasks.

Be ready for their new relationship

This can be one of the hardest steps to take, especially if you still have romantic feelings for your ex. But the truth is that he has the right to start a new relationship at any time. You should be prepared for the fact that he will fall in love with someone else.

If you find out that your ex is starting a new relationship, don’t panic, have a tantrum, or create drama. Respect their boundaries and needs. If it bothers you that your ex has a new lover, you should sort out your feelings. And maybe this is not the best time to be friends with him.

When you should not maintain a friendship with your ex?

There are situations in which a friendship with your ex is not always a good idea. If you are feeling lonely, you shouldn’t try to renew the relationship. You just want to fill your void. Such friendship will not lead to anything good since a lonely person in such a relationship tries to adapt to their partner, ignoring their true feelings.

If you still love your ex, your friendship with him can be traumatic, and you are unlikely to be able to resume what was before. Instead, focus on getting through the pain of the breakup, letting go of resentments, and moving into a relationship with someone else.

If your love relationship has been toxic, you shouldn’t be friends with that person either. A toxic relationship is when your partner hurts you and makes you suffer. Any relationship with abusers, narcissists, or psychopaths is a path to self-destruction.

It is still better to work through your injuries and resentments first

Friendship post-breakup definitely has some advantages and pitfalls. But maintaining a healthy relationship is always a good idea.

Friendship with your ex should first and foremost be comfortable for you and not traumatize your psycho-emotional state. Although, before you decide on continuing after the breakup, it is still better to work through your injuries and resentments to reach a new, higher level of relationship.

Wendy Sterling, CPCC, ACC, CDS

Divorce Recovery Specialist | Certified Professional Co-Active Life Coach

Create firm yet flexible boundaries and respectfully communicate with them

So many divorcees either want to be friends with their ex, or they cannot fathom a day where that will become a reality. I will admit, it can be hard to stay friends with your ex because we do not know how or where to draw new boundaries.

Why? Transitioning to friendship post-divorce is complicated because we default into our old role as former partners.

It is important to first take time and space to heal – advice that is rarely followed. Closure of any relationship requires work, just like relationships do. And it is work that gets to happen away from one another.

What does that look like? Carve out alone time for yourself to feel what comes up, mourn it, and move through it.

As humans, we resist the negative feelings that arise and try to push them away. What that does is allow them to persist and increase your doubts, fears, anxiety, and guilt. By not feeling through them, we give them the power to control us.

This, too, shall pass.

The best way to do this is to create firm yet flexible boundaries and respectfully communicate with them. Boundaries tell others where you end, and they begin. What you will tolerate and accept and what you will not.

It is about keeping your peace, not the other person.

Do not communicate with them as you did when you were together

It is also about preventing yourself from falling into old habits. That means limit communication (do not text them multiple times per day) and lay down ground rules that you both agree to. Perhaps that means not sharing about your dating lives until it impacts your kids, no flirting, no discussing your bad day.

In other words, do not communicate with them as you did when you were together. This is a whole new dynamic!

Be genuine about your friendship

That means be realistic that they will move on and meet someone else. If you notice that you feel jealous or an old flame is ignited, take a step back and evaluate your feelings.

Give them time to settle and work through them. Then reassess. Try to stay present in what is possible vs. compare to the past. Be friendly and move forward.

Toni Dupree

Etiquette Coach | Founder and President, Etiquette & Style by Dupree | Author, “Straight Up From the Teacup

Don’t bring up old arguments or reminisce about dating

When I was younger, being friends with my ex was never my consideration because I always said, “If they had worked harder to be my friend before the breakup, maybe we would still be together.”

Now that I’m older, that thought process is water the bridge. I’m not opposed to friendship with an ex—possible because I have nothing to prove, so there’s no reason to stand my ground by refusing a friendship, exchanging niceties in public, or even giving/accepting a little friendly advice.

Although, there are some cons to maintaining a friendship with an ex, like being too familiar. Sometimes having a history with someone can be misunderstood to mean still having dibs as it relates to a sexual relationship, borrowing money or other tangibles, and taking liberties with two people who are still engaged romantically.

Please understand that there is no wrong or right way to embark on this new way of buddying your ex, making them your new (pal-ex)—my new word for being progressive through relationship transitions.

That said, having nothing to prove simply means being absolutely ok with yourself, that chapter ending, and most importantly, the way it ended. There’s no reason to go backward, opening old wounds to prove anything to yourself or the ex.

Instead, you choose to move forward with a different goal. In fact both of you may discover something wonderful that you missed while dating.

In order to be a friend with your ex:

  • You can’t see them as your partner any longer.
  • You can’t harbor negative feelings about them.
  • You truly have to like them as a person.
  • Respect their individuality and space.
  • Don’t bring up old arguments or reminisce about dating.
  • Set boundaries that work for the both of you.

We may not be able to salvage what is lost in the relationship, but I believe if we stay true to what purely connected us and cultivating the friendship by protecting and taking care of our hearts, maintaining a friendship will be a cakewalk.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The only way to have a friend is to first be one,” that goes for all of us.

Viktoria Krusenvald

Certified Wellness Consultant | Co-creator, Zerxza

My partner and I spent together over 10 years, 3 of those married. We were always best friends – the very definition of best friends. We shared everything; we did everything together and knew each other through and through. However, last year we started to drift apart. You could say that the stress of life and work finally hit us and made us forget our connection.

After about 6 months, we finally decided to separate for good, and we divorced.

Even during our divorce and separation, we remained extremely close – he even helped me move to my new apartment. We stayed in contact every single day – we called, messaged, visited each other. We were still best friends, we simply didn’t live together and weren’t married anymore, but our connection and friendship never changed during all of that.

In just a few months of separation, we finally realized that we’re being ridiculous because we still love each other and want to spend our lives together.

Our bond was so insane that we simply couldn’t take the separation! We decided to get married again, and in August this year, we’re having a new ceremony to make everything right again and continue being together. In our case, being friends even after breaking up was the one crucial thing that brought us together and showed us why we still need to be together. Our friendship literally saved our marriage.

Women, you can be friends with your partner.

Our crazy situation simply proved that you could be best friends with your husband and save your marriage that way. Too many women shun their husbands, thinking they can’t be friends because “you don’t have children with your friends nor sleep with your friends.”

This distorted belief leads women to marry without having an actual deep connection. Every person hopes to find a deep connection and a strong, loving bond with their partner, but you can’t establish that without friendship. Men also crave support – they’d rather spend their life with their best friend.

So, my first piece of advice: women, don’t shun friendship with men.

Don’t even label them as men – take everyone as human beings who are looking for love, connection, support, and friendship. You don’t need to create a barrier between yourself and your partner, thinking you can’t be vulnerable and open yourself up because then your partner will “stop loving you.”

Quite on the contrary: that’s exactly what makes your connection stronger. And if you end up being shunned after opening up, it wouldn’t have been a lasting relationship anyway.

Accept the situation and find happiness from within you

Sometimes, we can get very comfortable in our relationship and lose focus – sometimes, we even lose ourselves in the relationship. To stay friends with your ex, your first priority is letting go of any pent-up feelings, frustration, anger, or disappointment.

Instead, you need to learn how to accept the situation and find happiness from within you.

After a breakup, we tend to beat ourselves up or become insanely angry for losing all the hopes and dreams we had built over the course of the relationship. Once we get angry, we tend to pour it out on the ex and kill any chance of ever staying friends.

In the end, we have to accept that sometimes, people are better off separately.

It doesn’t mean you did anything wrong. Instead, accept that from now on, you two will stay friends and will be there for each other as friends. Friendship is a beautiful gift, so instead of letting anger and disappointment flood your life with negativity, accept this new kind of relationship and focus on the beauty of that.

Beyond that, start focusing on self-care and loving yourself more – happiness is never related to other people.

True happiness comes from within the person, and no other person on the planet can ever bring you your happiness. In other words, as long as you make your happiness the job of others, it’s always fleeting. Learn to accept your new relationship status and put all your love towards yourself.

Understand and support your ex

Sometimes, the breakup is a result of your ex being confused about him/herself. Made there’s something going on in his life, maybe there’s something deep, extending all the way to the childhood. Sometimes, he might not even know what’s going on why there are certain feelings.

The point is: it’s not your place to judge your ex or consider any feelings wrong.

Instead of blaming your ex or bashing him for any negative feelings, understand your ex’s perspective, desires, feelings, and thoughts. Don’t judge, even if it seems hard.

The best way to maintain a great friendship is to let go of your own beliefs or trying to push your beliefs on your ex. Just be there for your ex, listen, understand and be kind and loving – that’s the formula for maintaining a friendship after a breakup.

Alison Guzzio

Public Relations Professional | Recreational Athlete

Take responsibility for your role in the divorce

You know when you are sitting on the beach on a beautiful day and off in the distance, you see dark skies forming? You think no way will that storm come your way, especially when you are on vacation and everything is meant to be perfect. But it gets closer, so you either pack up early (being the proactive type), or you wait it out and sit in the rain cursing, hoping some magical power will make it go away.

As they say in Caddy Shack, “I don’t think the heavy stuff is gonna come down for a while now.”

The downfall of my marriage was a common scenario. I had feelings of frustration, resentment, loneliness, and betrayal that I would address at times – mostly to the wrong audience. After years of watching the storm approach, I went into robotic mode. It’s embarrassing to admit I turned a blind eye to the really heavy stuff.

I just thought about the sunny days ahead and how to make them great.

I started to observe other couples: New and long-term marriages, families with young or grown children, divorced couples, blended families, and single parents dating. I started to read, analyze and write to prescribe the right way to start a new life on my own, and as a parent, what the best scenario would be for my kids.

It quickly became obvious that every divorce situation is different.

  • How passionate are you as a couple?
  • What is your mental state?
  • What are the emotional intelligence levels?
  • Financial status, careers, parenting techniques, extended family support and behaviors, and so on?

One thing I knew for sure, I didn’t want the stereotypical tumultuous, angry situation that leaves everyone worse than before. After eight years of practice and monitoring results, here are my tips on how to stay friends with your ex:

  1. Self-awareness – Take responsibility for your role in the divorce. How are you handling the communication moving forward and the end results you want while still being conscious of which results will serve the greatest number of people that are affected?
  2. Respect – You married this person. You had feelings, a friendship, a love affair – and in some cases, homes, children, and shared family and friends. Want the best for them, and reciprocate adoration and generosity when you get it.
  3. Hold your tongue – Words will linger much longer than you can imagine.
  4. Dream big – if you’re bored, you’re boring! No good comes from that. Only you can make your life great. List new accomplishments, push yourself, and achieve goals you never thought possible. Find your inner happiness, and that will put everything else in perspective.
  5. Date wisely – Choose a partner who also practices steps 1 through 4 and supports your mission to achieve the friends with ex status.

In the literal sense, I went to my own new house after the storm, but somehow my ex and I worked together as a duplex: Same connected structure but with privacy for our new lives.

It was a new take on the proverbial family unit and one we would both protect above all else. Sometimes we even meet on the porch for a few laughs, and wish each other the best as we continue to live our best lives.

Ray Sadoun

Medical Reviewer & Addiction Advocate, OK Rehab

Staying friends with an ex can be incredibly difficult for many reasons. We may struggle to see them in a platonic way, we may have leftover resentment about the relationship, and we may become jealous when they inevitably move on. However, I have watched several of my patients stay friends with their ex-partners over the years.

Here is the guidance I gave them that helped them to hold onto the friendship:

Take time to heal before jumping into a friendship

After a breakup, you need time to heal from the loss in your life. The best way to do this is to distance yourself from your ex, allow yourself to process all the negative emotions you experience, and focus on what makes you happy as an individual.

Though it is possible to be friends with an ex, this usually comes after a period of distance. After some time apart, you will both be in a better position to handle the intensity of seeing each other again in a completely different context.

Make sure neither of you are holding onto romantic feelings

For this friendship to work, it needs to be platonic. If either of you is secretly hoping you will get back together, it will ruin the friendship. Before agreeing to stay friends, make sure you communicate with your ex about your feelings towards each other.

Be prepared for them to find romance again

It’s one thing to stay friends with an ex when they are single, but it takes another level of maturity to stick by them when they enter into a new relationship. You need to be prepared that this will eventually happen, so consider whether you are ready to deal with the feelings that may arise.

Equally, remember that you may not always want to stay friends with your ex. When you find a new partner, it may be necessary to distance yourself slightly.

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7 signs that you are not ready to be friends with an ex

Psychology

Actually, why not? Maintaining a normal relationship is an adult and mature act. After all, you still care about this person, and, what the hell is not joking, maybe he is not averse to supporting you in difficult times. True, the ubiquitous psychologists say that friendship with the former sometimes does more harm than good.

According to Susan Elliott, author of Getting Past Your Breakup, you have to wait at least six months to get into the friendship stage—the amount of time varies depending on the couple, the severity of the relationship, and how it ended. . “You need time to take a break and re-enter the world as a single person,” says Elliott. “Even after the most amicable parting, each of the partners needs to take a time out to survive the pain of loss and sort out feelings.”

In addition to this sage advice, Elliott shares seven tell-tale signs that a friendship with an ex should be put on hold.

1. You still feel pain, anger or other unpleasant emotions.

Breaking up a relationship does not happen overnight. You must slowly go through all the emotions that accompany this, without holding them back - sadness, disappointment, rejection, resentment, or some completely unknown combination. If you are still worried, then you are probably not ready to be friends with your ex yet - being in disheveled feelings, it is impossible to open a new chapter in a relationship, even the most neutral one.

Focus on the feelings you are experiencing, seek help from a friend or therapist if things get really bad. Return to your favorite hobbies, walking, exercising, writing in a diary - all this will help clarify your thoughts and free yourself from negative feelings.

2. You can't talk about the past without excitement

If you find it difficult to talk about it without tears, hand wringing and endless tirades that drive loved ones into depression, then you are not yet ready to become friends. Maybe you are avoiding working through the feelings that overwhelmed you with a sad wave, or maybe you just love him. The bottom line is that you will know that you have dealt with grief when you can talk about your ex in a calm manner. You must not only live through all the emotions, but also realize what exactly you took away from the relationship before you move on to the friendship phase.

3. The thought that he is dating someone makes you mad

Really, you can talk with a friend about anything, including personal matters? If the information that he was on a date gives you a spasm in the stomach, there is only one conclusion - it's too early to be friends.

To test, imagine that you are sitting together in a cafe, having a neutral conversation about dreams and books, and suddenly a notification pops up on his smartphone about a new “match” on Tinder. What would you feel? Indifference? Joy for him? Burning jealousy?

Since friendship requires support and understanding in different life situations, and you are not yet ready to admit that other people are claiming your place in the life of your ex, it would be a good idea to refrain from premature coffee meetings.

4. Do you still dream of getting him back?

Honestly ask yourself why you want to be friends with him. If deep down you cherish the dream of reuniting as a couple, then friendship is definitely the wrong step, at least for now. This approach will nullify your efforts to get rid of experiences - moreover, it will serve as a painful installation for both parties.

Entering into friendship, hoping to eventually return to romance, is by no means so cloudless - both for you and for him. The problem is that the relationship ended in painful settings for both: you probably have a grudge against him, he also harbored a grudge. And since you are subconsciously set up to be angry, offended or disappointed, this will happen at the slightest pretext - expectations will not come true, but will return you a few steps back.

Forget about this destructive scenario. It is impossible to build a friendship based on ulterior motives and putting yourself at risk of emotional pain. Take time to reflect on what you are missing in a relationship and find ways to bring it out in others.

5. You feel lonely

After the relationship ends, there is more free time, especially if you lived together, and social life was based on interaction with your ex's friends and family. When you lose that connection, it's tempting to fill the void by appealing to your ex under the guise of friendship. Such a strategy only temporarily brings relief, in fact, turning into a "run in circles" - repeated resumption of relationships and ultimately a brutal breakup "forever", which you can very well avoid - along with an invitation to his mother's birthday.

6. You inquire about the life of your ex on social networks or with mutual friends

Regular checking of his adventures on Instagram is (an extremist organization banned in Russia) convincing evidence that you are not ready to be friends. If you collect information about your ex from all known sources instead of asking directly: "Are you dating someone?", you are undoubtedly hiding true feelings. Yes, it still hurts you, but he, as if on purpose, looks his best and lives a full life. Do not rush to make contact, return to your feelings, let them burn to the ground and go to a new autobiography page, where, by the way, you do not have to be friends with your ex at all.

7. You are waiting for him to turn into a fairy prince

More precisely, he will become what you wanted him to be when you were together. You left him to absorb the loss and rehabilitate while you lurk on the sidelines, waiting for him to magically transform into the partner of your dreams. So, relax. Sitting around hoping it will change is an unhealthy and unproductive use of your time.

If the breakup is due to fundamental personality differences or problematic behaviors such as drinking or infidelity, it is unlikely to change. Also, obsessing about your ex keeps you from meeting someone else. Hoping that one day you can start over with a mythically rejuvenated ex worth being friends with, you risk missing out on a new love - someone you want just the way they are.

Images from the film "Atonement"

See also:

Secret feelings: why you shouldn't rush to declare your love

25 things a couple should do together at least once in their lives

Like first love affects relationships in the future

Smirnova Natasha


Tags

  • Psychology
  • Divorces and separations
  • relationships

Dispute: is it worth being friends with the former?

We have created the Argument rubric to show different points of view on the same issue. See how others do.

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Situation

Some people think that it is important to remain friends after a breakup. Others cut ties to start over as quickly as possible. Among our heroes, Nastya and Yegor are from the first, and Vanya and Polina are from the second. They explained their position from personal experience.

Why being friends with an ex is cool

Nastya, 34 years old

Mother of two children, married. Continues communication with the former, with whom she was in a relationship before marriage

  • Maintaining useful acquaintances . I am on good terms not only with the former, but also with his relatives and friends. Among them there is a cardiologist, a chiropractor and many other specialists in various fields. We also keep in touch with them, sometimes I turn to them for some advice or, conversely, they turn to me.

  • Warm relationship with parents. While we were together, I became close to my partner's family, which is not to blame for our differences with him. Friendship with the former allows you not to cut off ties with your parents, if you have previously established relationships with them. My children and I sometimes come to the parents of the former in a house in the village, where we are warmly welcomed.

  • Help . Like any other good friend, an ex-boyfriend can help me if necessary, and I will help him. For example, he lives in another city and periodically brings toys or medicines that I cannot find in my city.

  • Opportunity to receive objective criticism. He knows me and can point out my strengths and weaknesses, including in relationships. I am sure that if I turn to him for advice or support, he will be able to reasonably assess the situation.

Egor, 21 years old

Not in a relationship. Was friends with a girl until they both grew up and changed interests

  • Net reputation. Often, after a negative breakup, a former partner begins to spread far from the most pleasant rumors, to devalue the relationship. Because of this, you can lose contact with mutual friends or acquaintances who will take the side of the former.

  • Quiet life. When the breakup is by mutual agreement and both partners decide that their feelings are more friendly than tender, it's great to continue communication. No one offends anyone, does not offend, there is no need to stir up a scandal. No one needs to be deleted from life and thrown into black lists on social networks.

  • Support. The former partner knows about your difficulties, problems or experiences. And even after parting, she can continue to support. In addition, he knows the whole situation and your thoughts on this matter, there is no need to retell everything again.

Why being friends with an ex is not cool

Vanya, 23 years old

Not in a relationship. Survived a negative experience of parting, after which the girl wanted to remain friends, but he did not

  • Friendship may not suit everyone. There was a case when a girl offered to break up and remain friends. I continued to experience a strong feeling of falling in love. Therefore, it was strange and difficult for me to accept such a position. I didn’t imagine then how you can just be friends, communicate on abstract topics, when you want tactile, physical, romantic intimacy.

  • It's harder to move on that way . If warm feelings remain after parting, then communication and even more so friendship will not help to forget a person, switch to something else, stop thinking about him. In addition, such friendly communication can hurt - for example, if a former partner starts talking about his new hobby, counting on friendly support or help.

  • Jealousy of a new partner. Not everyone will accept the fact that your current partner is talking to their ex. Such communication can provoke jealousy, quarrels. And in general, your contacts with the past can hurt a loved one, he may feel superfluous.

  • A reminder of one's past actions, of one's past self. Separate memories are associated with any friend, albeit not always pleasant ones. People break up, as a rule, because of something negative, for example, the characters did not agree, the quarrels were tired, or the feelings simply faded away. And every meeting can remind you of this.

P olina, 22 years old

I broke up with my boyfriend three years ago and started a new relationship. The former was added to the black lists due to obsession

  • Stalking and invasion of privacy. Over time, the former began to react aggressively to each of my posts on social networks, where I rested with my friends, - he wrote me in a personal insult both in my direction and in the direction of my friends. In addition, in each of my entries, whether it was a quote from a book, a movie or a meme, he looked for references to himself, which he also wrote to me about. As a result, I got tired of it, and I blocked it, then the spam attack began with fake pages. This went on for three years until he finally calmed down.

  • Control attempts. Some time after the breakup, a direct message from my ex arrived on my instagram * with a collision and a request to delete a photo where my nipples allegedly showed through and I looked like a girl with low social responsibility. In the photo, I was in a regular summer top, which is far from erotic attire. I refused. As a result, she received a hatred in her direction.

  • Sharp remarks about current relationships . When I started a new relationship, the former began to speak very caustically about my chosen one. He criticized the guy and generally condemned my choice. Once, when we were at a concert in the building where the former worked (I found out already when I arrived there), he photographed my boyfriend in a smoking room and sent me a photo with the text: “Look, yours is smoking here.” Attempts to discredit my current boyfriend were definitely not to my liking.

  • Hope for the renewal of relations.


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