What Does It Mean When Your Ex Wants To Be Friends After A Breakup?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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There are four main reasons, Rebecca Griffith and her colleagues found, why exes feel compelled to maintain a or to suggest doing so: for civility (i.e., I want this breakup to hurt less than it will otherwise), for reasons relating to

unresolved romantic desires

(I want to see other people but keep you …

Can exes be friends after a breakup?


It is possible to be friends right after a breakup

— but it's rare. … “Yes, it is possible to be friends with an ex right after the breakup, especially if you have had a strong foundation built on friendship before you became lovers,” Celia Schweyer, dating expert at Dating Scout, tells Elite Daily.

Why does my ex want to be friends after he broke up with me?

There are four main reasons, Rebecca Griffith and her colleagues found, why exes feel compelled to maintain a friendship or to suggest doing so: for civility (i.e., I want this breakup to hurt less than it will otherwise), for reasons relating to

unresolved romantic desires

(I want to see other people but keep you …

Why would an ex want to be friends?


Wants to have control

Some individuals enjoy being the dominating one. They gloat over the unfair control they have on people's life. Your ex may want to be friends with you only to experience the thrill of seeing you concede to their requests for friendship.

Is it normal for ex to be friends?

According to the experts,

friendship with an ex is possible

, but there's a catch. You must both be willing to admit that you don't work together as a couple. Maintaining a healthy relationship post-breakup requires both people “to recognize what worked about the relationship and what did not,” says Dr.

How do you tell if your ex still has feelings for you?

  • They keep texting or calling you. …
  • They follow you on social media. …
  • They don't return your stuff. …
  • They contact your friends, or their friends contact you. …
  • They cross your path. …
  • They get jealous or want to make you feel jealous. …
  • They are not moving on.

How do you know if your ex still wants you?

To figure out if your ex still likes you,

watch their behavior to see how they're acting toward you

. Additionally, notice how often they communicate with you and the types of communication you have. As another option, talk to your family and friends to find out if they think your ex is still interested.

Why being friends with ex is bad?

2. It

will be harder for you to move

on. Being around your ex all the time will make it harder for you to get rid of feelings of loss and regret. … After a breakup, people need time to heal and just reflect on the relationship, and that will become much more difficult if they're in the company of their ex all the time.

Is it healthy to keep in touch with an ex?

Oftentimes, if you broke up for the right reasons, keeping in touch will only aggravate the emotional wound. If you see your ex as a backup,

then it's not healthy

. If you're so focused on getting back together, you can't be friends, then no, it isn't healthy.

Why can't exes stay friends?

There are four major reasons behind why people choose to stay friends:

security, practical reasons, civility, and unresolved attraction

. People who still had “unresolved romantic desires” were less likely to feel secure and happy in a friendship with their ex, the study found.

How do you know if your ex secretly wants you back?

  1. 1) They stay in touch. …
  2. 2) They're jealous. …
  3. 3) They open up about their feelings. …
  4. 4) They want to know about your dating life. …
  5. 5) They want you to know about their dating life. …
  6. 6) They're still protecting you. …
  7. 7) They often reminisce on the ‘good old times' with you. …
  8. 8) They follow your social media.

Why does my ex keep showing up in my dreams?

As you can probably tell by now, exes appearing in dreams

can symbolize all kinds of things

. Exemplore says it might just be your mind's way of telling you that you're repressing a different side of yourself — likely an opposite side of yourself — and that you need to get in touch with who you really are.

How do you stop loving someone but stay friends?

  1. Allow Yourself to Grieve. …
  2. Pick Your Distance. …
  3. Understand What Your Brain is Doing. …
  4. Find Non-Romantic Media to Consume. …
  5. Treat Your Feelings Like a Third Person in the Relationship. …
  6. Let Your Feelings Inspire You.

How do you tell if he's not over you?

  • He still texts you “happy birthday” promptly. …
  • You still get invited to parties he throws. …
  • You're pretty sure he's sent you what amounts to a “you up?” text at least once. …
  • He's made a point to show you how much he's grown and changed. …
  • He hasn't blocked you on social media.

How do you make your ex regret losing you?


Reminiscing

about your relationship tends to bring up generally positive memories, and these rose-colored glasses can make your ex regret leaving you (at least, temporarily). A casual mention of any place you used to go regularly as a couple might do the trick. Try, “I actually got coffee at _____ this morning.

Leah Jackson
Author
Leah Jackson
Leah is a relationship coach with over 10 years of experience working with couples and individuals to improve their relationships. She holds a degree in psychology and has trained with leading relationship experts such as John Gottman and Esther Perel. Leah is passionate about helping people build strong, healthy relationships and providing practical advice to overcome common relationship challenges.