Breakup, one word men and women dread hearing in relationships. Falling in love is easy but hearing that the one you love so much doesn’t want to be with you any longer is heartbreaking. It is one of the statements people don’t love hearing in a relationship but it is also inevitable.
For some ladies, it is hard to stay away from someone they have invested lots of emotions in. Even after the relationship is over, they keep hoping that their love will come back to them one day.
So to find out just how long it really takes to get over an ex, we asked these women to share their post-breakup timelines and how they successfully moved on.
Adanna: I held on to him for a year after we broke up
It takes me a while to get over anyone, mostly because of texting and social media. My last ex and I stayed in touch on and off for a year after we broke up. But, I learned that I needed to keep busy in order to cut ties to him. I went out to bars on weeknights instead of staying in, binge watched new shows, and I eventually just stopped thinking about him.
Hilda: Focusing on improving my life helped me get over my ex
It took me eight months to get over my ex. For six months after the split, I was depressed and discouraged about finding anyone ever again. I realized that my previous relationship wasn’t meant to be and that finding the right guy could take time. So, I focused on improving my life for myself, not some guy. I took a break from dating and filled my life with things like spending time with friends, working out, and planning a big move. I met Mr. Right two months later.
Christiana: It only took me about a week to get over my last ex
After he graduated from the university, about two years before I did, we got to the point where we had nothing in common anymore. We barely saw each other. For the last three months of the relationship, I knew it was fizzling out and that I should end it, so I didn’t feel that bad when I broke things off. Plus, I jumped into a relationship with my current boyfriend whom I’ve been with for over six years about two weeks after my breakup, which definitely sped-up the process of getting over my ex. It only took me about a week to get over my last ex.
Gloria: It took me a long time to get over the guilt of breaking up with my last ex
It took me a long time to get over the guilt of breaking up with my last ex. When I told him it was over, he was surprised, very hurt, and angry. I felt horrible for making him so upset. Over the course of two years, I tried to stay friendly with him to ease his pain, but when I heard he had a girlfriend, I felt totally relieved and completely over him.
Esther: It took me six months to get over my ex
After a year and half together, it took me about six months to get over my ex. Post breakup, we chased went back and forth about getting back together, but the timing was always off. Finally, I cut him off. I stopped responding to his texts and calls and deleted him and his friends and family on social media. I was tempted to keep tabs on him, but I knew I shouldn’t. Also, I didn’t want his friends to see what I was up to. I cut him off and my life became better.
Jennifer: I stayed off social media for a year just to get over my ex
Our breakup was bad. After staying off of social media and cutting off contact with my ex-boyfriend for an entire year, I got back on social and saw he was with another girl. It didn’t upset me at all. He didn’t wait to move on, so I didn’t see the point of hurting over someone who has moved on with someone else.
Sandra: Dating a new guy six months after my last break up helped me move on
Six months after the breakup, I remember waking up and just feeling like I was finally over my relationship of over two years. It probably helped that I recently got a message from another guy I was crushing on before I started dating my ex asking if I wanted to meet him for coffee. The timing was perfect, and I started dating that guy soon after.
Maureen: I stopped thinking about my ex when a new guy showed up
There was a lot of physical chemistry between me and this guy I was seeing for a couple of months, but he wasn’t serious with me. During our relationship, I was constantly worried about what he was really doing when we weren’t together. After four months, I decided to stop stressing about him and focus on myself. I started hitting the gym more frequently and I dated a lot. I ended up meeting my current boyfriend about a week after the last time I saw my ex and never thought about him again.
Ifeyinwa: I dated more guys after we broke up just to put distance between us
When I found out my ex of two and a half years was cheating on me, I was completely done with him, but it took me a while to get over the betrayal. I could hear myself annoying my friends and even the new guys I was seeing by talking about it all the time. In the year after our breakup, I dated more people than I ever had, which put more distance between me and him. Plus, after realizing that everyone was sick of hearing me talk about my ex, I made it a goal to not bring it up and forget about it. It worked!
Bukola: I stopped reaching out to my ex 18 months after we broke up
After I ended my relationship of three and a half years, I thought that my ex would realize he took me for granted and come back. But when he didn’t, I went out dancing, drank too much, and dated a lot. Though, I still kept my ex at arm’s length, which made it hard to completely get over him. About 18 months later, I cut the cord by stopping the texts and no reaching out, and I could finally move on.
