Being friends with a former partner is something many of us neither want or feel is possible, but with the right communication it can work. These include: civility; unresolved romantic desires; practicality (eg working together, going to school together or sharing mutual friends) and security.
There's a famous saying that goes, "If two past lovers can remain friends, they are either still in love, or never were." And I've never agreed with something more in my life.
Conclusion. You are not alone in wanting to be friends with your ex, and there is nothing inherently wrong with it. Exes can make for good friends who know how to support, motivate, and care for you. However, each situation is unique.
Breaking up doesn't always mean you don't have a chance at a friendship. If you are both on the same page and agree, you can remain friends after breaking up. If you need help deciding what is right for you, you might consider getting a professional opinion.
"Being platonic friends with an ex (after a bit of cooling off time) is completely fine, as long as you respect boundaries, don't force your partner to hang out with your ex and let everyone know there's no chance of reconciliation," says online dating expert Julie Spira.
But it's important to keep in mind that many people stay in touch after a breakup in a respectable — and perfectly platonic — way. "There's nothing wrong with remaining friends with an ex under certain circumstances," Jonathan Bennett, a certified counselor and dating expert, tells Bustle.
Trombetti says that a guy who constantly talks about his ex is probably still hung up on her. Some of the telltale signs that she's clearly on his mind: "If he talks about her a lot in conversation and her name continuously comes up, along with things they did or shared together."
They're friends with their ex
Feeling threatened by an ex is a normal feeling — but it's not a red flag. Maybe they were friends before they started dating. Perhaps they value each other's opinions or words of advice. Or maybe they dated so long ago that every ounce of romantic connection has simply disappeared.
Staying friends with someone after developing real romantic feelings for them can be hard. However, many people have successfully remained friends after unrequited love confessions. Although it's common for two people not to be able to get past potential awkwardness, it can still be possible for some.
In the queer, polyamorous community Morgan Root is a part of, they've found that it's incredibly common to be friends with exes. Not only is it not unusual, but it's almost required.
A study that examined why people maintain friendships with exes found four reasons: security (emotional support, advice, trust), practicality (shared possessions or finances), civility, and unresolved romantic desires.
What does it mean when your ex wants to be friends? It may mean they are not over the relationship yet or regret the decision to break up with you. They may also want to be friends because they want to be on good terms with you post-breakup or may need something from you.
Your friendship with your ex is strong and rewarding. Your ex is seen as a possible “backup” if the current relationship fails. Your ex is still part of your larger group of friends. You feel like you invested a lot of time and have been through a lot with your ex.
A friendship between exes exposes either one or both of you to a pain and hurt much worse than what the breakup brought on. This is especially true if there are unresolved feelings at play and both of you have gone long enough without getting into a new relationship.
"A situationship is that space between a committed relationship and something that is more than a friendship," explains psychotherapist and author Jonathan Alpert. "Unlike a friends with benefits or relationship, there isn't consensus on what it is."
Can a man sleep with a woman without developing feelings? Yes, he can. While both the genders can engage in casual sex if they want, it is observed that it is easier for men to let a casual relationship stay casual for longer.
Yes, Mature Men can be legitimate, authentic friends with the women they're sexually attracted to. We can work respectfully alongside them, hang out with them, have lunch with them, talk sincere and impartial with them about their boyfriends and husbands and do pretty much anything else we'd do with any other friend.
Possibly, but you need to have plenty of communication. Make sure that both you and the other person are on the same page and that your relationship is totally platonic.
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.
If you share a healthy bond and have firm boundaries with your ex, being in touch with them can become a significant part of your social support, since the relationship has a certain level of shared comfort. The key is to know what your expectations and boundaries are with each other.
People can absolutely have healthy relationships with past partners — and some find it inevitable, depending on how small their community is. But the way your partner is going about these friendships is clearly creating insecurity in the relationship because he is being dismissive of your emotions.
“It might feel awkward at first, but it's also perfectly healthy to talk about past relationships if it's done in a conscious way. It can help you understand each other better when you share these things; it can alleviate any fears you might have.
Inappropriate texting in a relationship can be considered cheating in a committed relationship, depending on how the couple define infidelity. Cheating can come in many different forms, such as physical or sexual affairs, emotional affairs and online affairs.
If he keeps talking about his ex with you, it is totally possible that he still has feelings for her. If he is staying in touch with his ex-girlfriend over text and calls a little too much, then chances are he is still in love with her.
In reality, men experience more emotional pain after a breakup. They also need more time to move on from heartbreak. Since many guys are not comfortable displaying their emotions, they become avoidant. Loss of a relationship is often a common cause of why men go cold suddenly.