How to Get Over the Sickening Feeling When Your Ex Starts Dating Someone Else

Spend time hanging out with your friends instead of thinking about your ex and his new relationship.
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You sheepishly look up from behind your binder only to realize that "he" is walking down the hall towards you with "her." Your stomach churns with mortification and feels like it's going to drop straight down to your feet. Whether this is a likely scenario when you see your ex and his new girl or you feel ill at the thought of someone else taking your place, getting over that sickening feeling is a must before you can truly move on.

1 A Little Help From Your Friends

You don't have to go through your break-up alone. Getting over that terrible feeling is easier if you enlist your close friends and family to help. This doesn't mean that you have to constantly call your best buds or talk non-stop about how you can't stand your ex or her new guy. Instead, sit down with your nearest and dearest and talk it out. Ask your friend for any advice he may have for you or pep you up when you see your ex and her new date.

2 Time Takes Its Course

While sitting patiently and waiting for the sickening feeling to go away seems like an impossibility, with time you will gradually feel better. As time passes, your feelings toward your ex will slowly become less volatile, according to the article "Love and Romance" on the TeensHealth website. Every time you get that feeling, remind yourself that letting go takes time. Don't expect that you'll feel alright with the new duo by the end of the first week, but a few weeks later, it's likely that your feelings will diminish and you'll begin to feel better.

3 Let It Out

Looking stoic and pushing those tummy-turning feelings down deep inside of you won't help you to get over your break-up. Even though you may not want to show anyone how much she hurt you, bottling it up won't allow you to start the healing process. Let out yourself cry until you feel better. While you don't want to look like a lunatic in public, in private you can rant and rave to your heart's content. Imagine that your ex is front of you with her new man. Let loose with a safe-action experience in which you shout out all of your feelings to her.

4 Keep Your Distance

Spending time with your ex won't help you to get over him. Seeing him and his new love interest acts like squirting lemon on a cut, adding insult to injury. Avoid social situations that you know they'll be at as well. For example, if you know that the two of them frequent a local club every Friday night, chose a different hangout for the time being. If it isn't possible to completely avoid an event or activity where you'll see the couple -- such as going to a school dance -- separate yourself as much as possible. Surround yourself with friends or physically stay on the opposite side of the room.

Based in Pittsburgh, Erica Loop has been writing education, child development and parenting articles since 2009. Her articles have appeared in "Pittsburgh Parent Magazine" and the website PBS Parents. She has a Master of Science in applied developmental psychology from the University of Pittsburgh's School of Education.

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