A typical mistake people often make after their break-up is to start dating too soon.
The unpleasant reality, unfortunately, is that if you start dating too soon after your break-up, especially when you decide to try something like online dating, you most probably will crash and burn.
Why is that so?
Let me explain.
After a break-up there is a huge void. A void that needs to be filled.
You may have accepted that you can't get your Ex back, you've even managed to get through the 60 days of No-Contact, but you crave for that particular “feeling”.
The feeling of security and intimacy.
So you go out in a desperate search for what you once had.
The problem, however, is to find Mr or Ms. Right you have to be at peace with yourself and more or less over your Ex.
Because if you are NOT, you will compare each potential partner with your Ex and undermine every chance you had of finding that perfect partner you are looking for.
So how soon is too soon?
Six months? A year?
Actually, I talk about that in great detail Invalid shortcode attributes, but the bottom line is: if your Ex is still dominating your mind and they still have power over you one way or another then it is too early.
Period.
Another factor that especially applies if you have been out of the dating game for far too long is dating inexperience. You will have lots of unpleasant experiences if you start (online) dating after years of absence from the dating game.
You can either prepare yourself (for women, for men) or start off simple.
A good idea for post break-up dating is to follow 3 simple rules:
- flirt
- have fun
- don't have a new relationship in mind
Whatever you do, don't go against your instincts and don't date because you think it will help you getting over your Ex faster.
Because it won't. You can take my word for it.
Here is a success story from our dear reader Lyndsey, who wanted to share her experiences with online dating.
Breakup Success Story from our reader Lyndsey
Will I Ever Love Again? By Lyndsey Sahasranam
After I ended my marriage, I so desperately wanted to be accepted and loved again. I was missing the intimacy and love, and I craved it so much. I went out and put myself out on display, hoping others would find me and want me.
I searched the ocean of online dating sites to see the plenty of fish available.
Finding men was easy! I had 80 messages the first day. 40 were married men who wanted nothing but sex. 20 were young boys looking for an interesting, intimate experience with an older, more experienced woman. But of the last 20, only a few peaked my interest enough to hold a conversation.
It felt nice at first. I heard compliments like, “you have such a beautiful smile” or “how am I so lucky to have met you.”
Unfortunately, I learned the hard way that there are some mean men out there.
Some men are preying on the vulnerable women. They are waiting, like sharks, to attack fish who may still be injured or sick. They manipulate and lie and cheat their way into the hearts of the women, only to cause more pain in the end.
And then there are other men who are nice and kind but who are going through the same emotional transitions and grief as me and who are not ready to fall back into a relationship quickly after being hurt before.
The love and intimacy felt good but the pain and loss of them dropping me again was intense. It hurt. I felt rejected. I could feel my self-esteem being chipped away until I had nothing left to give.
Some men told me that I was too intense. I was trying too hard. And they were right.
So what I learned was this (and I still need to listen to this advice myself.):
Sometimes you need to put your fishing rod down and go and enjoy your life. You need to hang out friends and family, who love you for who you are. You can start to live again and fill your days and nights with all the things you love to do. You can live in the moment and start to appreciate what you already have. You can start to love yourself and build the confidence you need to be able to go fishing again.
The next time I go fishing I am going to remember that I have a choice. I can throw the fish back in the ocean. Or better still, I am hoping I never have to fish again. Perhaps the right man is out there, and he might find me while I am doing the things I love, with the people I love. I think I will know when I am ready and when it feels right to love again.
Thank you, Lyndsey, for sharing your experiences.
And yes, I strongly believe that the right man for you IS out there, waiting. I'm certain that you will meet each other when the time is right.
The same applies to all of those who are suffering from a break-up right now: “Mr/s Right” is out there and you will meet the day you're ready.
I know that I did… and I'm happier than ever.
Your friend,
Eddie Corbano
P.S.: Have you had some post break-up experiences? Please share in the comment-section below.
I went out for 3 weeks with a guy and when I broke up he threatened me cursed and sent me disgusting pictures and said horrible things about me
Hi! I broke up with my ex through text but I feel guilty because I’m already in a new relationship. My ex broke up with me on our anniversary which broke my heart. He recanted it the next morning explaining that he was just drunk. So I forgave him but nothing was the same after that. 3 months pasted of me crying and feeling sad for myself. I felt that I needed to end it. So I just did not text him anymore. He also did not text.
I still think about him because we made too many good memories. I feel guilty because I found love again too fast after that relationship ended. I wish I knew If he was okay.
I just recently ended my two year relationship. It was great in the beginning, he was sweet and funny and we had a so much in common. As the time went on we would argue a bit, but nothing out of the normal. We decided to move in together at 6 months. And I slowly started to see his true colors come out. He was caught on dating sites three times, became emotionally abusive and even attempted to become physically abusive before I took a stand. My family hated him and my dad paid for me to break my lease and come home. I thought I was finally free and then it hit me, realizing that the little things about him are gone. I couldn’t think about him without crying for the first week agter I ended it. Of course being female and single in the winter months, the second I said I was single on facebook guys I’ve known for years flocked. I wasn’t interested in anything like that. I became better friends with someone from high school and developed feelings. We started seeing each other and have went on a few dates. He’s exactly what I want and the exact opposite of what I got rid of. As things develop I’m seeing that I’m pulling away and don’t mean to. Doing any sort of affection just feels strange. I’m not sure if it’s because I was so used to my ex or what, but it’s driving me crazy.
Those that know how the game works can detect a very common theme here! As usual, it’s the women chasing the bad boy that hurts them while temporarily keeping the nice guy/good guy for attention and convenience. As usual, there are all the excuses for why they probably shouldn’t mess with the nice guy or commit to him or give him their all, but, of course, if the bad boy alpha gave one small opportunity they’d hump right back in his arms to be hurt again.
I never understood it, but I guess that’s the way we humans have been designed, and I cannot blame the humans since the humans never asked to be born or designed this way. I did learn through real life experience that being the jerk as a male has more success and rewards than being the good guy, in most cases. Being bad doesn’t come naturally to me, but I just learn what works and learn to act accordingly.
When my relationship was falling apart after 22 years (!!) and I found out he had been cheating the last couple of years too. Besides all of the other feelings, hurt, issues, pain, anger, turmoil, etc; I felt so strongly in my heart (head?) that no matter what happened, we couldn’t move on if that was an option, w/o me evening the score. I felt so strongly that if we were back together, he’d have ‘her’ in his mind (my insecurity) and I thought that at least he’d have to worry about the same thing – even the playing field. I told him (and friends, etc) that I was going to ‘get laid’. Everyone including him said, “that’s not you, not your style” . Well it turns out they were right. I went online and I can’t believe how quick I found someone! I was honest (without the dirty details) about how I was just out of a mess, etc and that I had the present but not future to offer. This guy is so nice, so everything good and what was missing and all the right stuff. He patiently let’s me keep him at arms-length, so to speak. We both are busy with kids at home and aren’t trying to push the relationship faster than needed, just trying to get some quality time together to date and get to know each other. I actually see potential for us, so much in common, it’s weird. So over the past year, the prior relationship fell further and is irrevocably over and dead and gone (not my choice) so I am using all the great methods on this site, because it ALL is exactly me. I feel like 2 separate people, heartbreak recovery on one side and new relationship on the other. I’m trying to keep the two separate so that it isn’t the usual rebound thing. I call him my ‘slice of nice’ because we truly have a great time together. I don’t love him, my heart is still mending and there’s just no room for new. I can tell he’s ready to let me know that “L” word, but he doesn’t push. Is it even possible to handle this in some way as to really have this relationship NOT be the standard rebound thing? Are there any things to say or do, aside from cryogenically storing him away until my heart is pumping again? Isn’t it possible, like you indicated that there are a few ‘come back from cheating’ success stories? Maybe this has the makings of the rebound guy really being Mr Right? What are my odds?
I was in a 5 year relationship and we parted 3 mos ago. First month was hard after that i started to feel good and spend time doing the things i use to enjoy, … Then I started seeing him on my way to work, texts started , then saying hi.. Then the question “let’s be friends”. Of course I agreed. I started to feel he was getting what he wanted & I wasn’t so I started the no contact & emailed him. But now I have took two mos backwards of the breakup . Anyways I have tried moving forward meeting people nothing serious on my part and i am totallt honest i dont want a relationship but when “they” text me or call a lot I start to feel I can’t breathe & I get stressed. I think for now I will just have fun & do me because the breakup took all my self esteem and confidence. I look forward to meeting the right person someday I just know its not now
Hey Eddie.
So we the dumpees shouldn’t go for rebound relationships right? It won’t work because we are still not over our ex’s. But what about the dumpers? What will happen if they get into a relationship soon after the breakup? Since they have already moved on and our way ahead of us. Will their rebound work?
I’m asking this question as my ex broke up with me as he wasn’t happy in the relationship and wanted to go out with someone else. He hadn’t found a girl then and he is still single, but there’s a good chance he might find someone soon.
Thanks a lot.
I’m so glad I read this. I joined an online dating site a couple months after the breakup and lately have been browsing it quote frequently and messaging women, but I know I’m not ready, so I have promised to myself to love life for a while and enjoy being me while I get back to a stable spot. Thanks Eddie!
Now I am at the 11 month mark and he still pops in my thoughts every day. Its sad because I dont want him too and it is hindering me moving on because I do compare others to him. He was not perfect and I could find things that I did not like about him but I really loved him and fell hard for him, he made me feel special and loved. I have been dating even soon after the break up just no sparks with anyone. So I am not pushing it chatting with a few guys but no definite plans, I am just going with the flow. You have to trust your gut when it tells you to stay away and I knew he was trouble before I started dating him. So silly of me not to listen, that was on lesson I learned. I have had no contact for just about five months he was contacting me and wanted to see me I blew him off because I knew he still had his gf and he had already cheated on her with me once. But the contact is over and he has not messaged me or anything. I did said him a bday wish trhough text and email but no response, which was good so that I didnt get my hopes up. Its not like I would ever want to date him again I would lose friends and family. So I think once the right man walks in my heart I will be completely healed.
I needed to read this article.
I joined an online dating service a few weeks after my breakup. I was and still am hurt over the quick way he moved on to someone else. I wanted that for myself. I did, and still do, want to feel like I am still attractive to men. I know that my self-esteem is totally shattered right now.
I went to coffee with one guy and I was upfront with him … I was not ready for a relationship. Fortunately he never called me again! However, another guy emailed me who sounds interesting, and he is probably going to call me tonight. I am torn now … I know that I need to be upfront with him by telling him I am not ready for a relationship. Stupid me already put myself out there. I would take my profile off visibility, then back on … I live close to my ex and the other day I saw him driving around with new gf. I got upset and put my visibility back on. Guys keep on messaging me …
Ugh, it really stinks going through this while my ex is enjoying his rebound relationship. It is so hard to do this the right way! I need to keep on coming here for inspiration and remindings that I need to heal before even dating again.
This is what has me scared out of my mind. It has been 9 months and I don’t know if I am ready yet for someone new in my life. I am overly cautious and really terrified of being hurt. But at the same time I am worried I might miss out on a wonderful human being. That leap of faith to try again is so hard. I almost feel panicky about thinking about the future. It is not that I haven’t let my ex go. I don’t want him back or cannot even imagine rekindeling anything with him either through friendship or anything else. He hurt me and I don’t ever want to go through that pain. So now I am scared of love or at least the possibility of it? I don’t want that. When is the time right? Will I just know? I hope that answer comes to me in a way I can understand. Cause right now confused is how I am feeling.
Thank you for this article. It’s just a conformation of what I’ve already known…I’m sure I will love again but right now it’s way to soon to start dating. 🙂 Hehe, sometimes It’s even cool to single. 🙂