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I regret breaking up with my ex. What should I do?

239 Answers
Last Updated: 04/20/2023 at 10:17am
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
Moderated by

Jill Kapil, PsyD

Psychologist

I have over 9 years of clinical experience, specialize in anxiety, and am passionate about my work. My approach is collaborative, empathic, supportive, and goal-oriented.

Top Rated Answers
JuanMaindigo
March 4th, 2021 3:19am
Do anything that you are able to control. Keep calm, forgive yourself, be honest and open, and try to identify why do you feel that way: regreat breaking up with your ex. Then make decisions that are based on that. For example, if you find yourself that you took the decision of breaking up due to a impulsive reaction, then try to initiate a connection with your ex, first, and when is the right moment, explain honestly your position and what you are feeling. If you are not sure about why you are feeling that way. Take your time, let time be the judge of what you are feeling and thinking and then try to connect with you again and think about what happened
graceblue16
May 20th, 2021 10:27pm
I know this is hard, but reach out to him/her/them! Explain your situation at let them know how they feel. If that doesn't work out, then I suggest that you move on. It is best to focus on yourself first before you focus on others! Perhaps taking some time for yourself and doing activities that you enjoy will help you. Sometimes taking a walk helps me clear out my mind and instantly puts me in a better mood after. Listening to good music or spending quality time with family and friends can also be good resources for moving on. Eventually time will pass and you will move on! I hope you feel better soon! Have a great day!
YourPickMeUp99
June 17th, 2021 1:23am
I can imagine that this relationship meant a lot to you and you are definitely not a lone in these feelings. What elements of the relationship do you miss? How was the relationship overall and how did it lead you to breaking up with your ex? Were these warranted? Whether they were or not, ask yourself what made you end things in the first place and see if this reminder will give you the peace you may be looking for. Take the time you need to process the relationship, it definitely meant a lot to you as you feel regret but ask yourself where is this regret coming from? How did these feelings occur? Start to search from within and figure out how you came to this realization.
Francesca4444
September 30th, 2021 9:29pm
Think about why you broke up with your ex. What led you to making that decision. Breaking up can be really hard. Have you reflected on the positive and negative aspects of being in that relationship? Do you miss your ex? or do you just miss being in a relationship? I cannot tell you what to do, because every relationship and situation is different. What I will share is that ending a relationship brings up many emotions you may not have felt for a while. It may be difficult to live without the person you have been with for a long time. You will get through this.
spiritualbalrog
February 13th, 2022 3:52pm
When feeling regret after breaking up with someone, perhaps the first place to start is to explore why there are feelings of regret. When a person has been with someone for a while, having found a balance, they grow comfortable in the relationship. Then something occurs which interrupts the balance. With this interruption, feelings of uncertainty can arise. Uncertainty can often be accompanied by anxiety. in these moments if our awareness drops, we can make decisions which are not well thought out. This same dynamic plays out after a break up. The break up is certainly an interruption which disrupts the balance and comfort which were found in the relationship. Essentially this is a space of growth, and places of growth are usually not comfortable. We are no longer who we were and not yet who we will become. Many times people will make the decision to go back to the ex to try and find the space of comfort again. This is quite often not the best idea. It is easy to forget the reasons we ended the relationship in the first place. When the regret rises, perhaps the first thing to do is pause. This gives time to reflect on possible thoughts of rekindling the relationship. By giving oneself some time, either alone or with a trusted confidant can help to illuminate what is really going on with the feelings of regret. Is it that we are lonely, anxious, unsure of ourselves? If these reasons are at play in the regret then it is probably a good thing to work on those first. Those have more to do with us, than with the ended relationship. As we address those we become emotionally healthier and may not need the relationship. Another factor is grief. A breakup brings many losses. The loss of the relationship, the loss of hopes and dreams which we had about the relationship, and a loss of understanding of ourselves. This grief is very similar to the grief we experience when someone dies. We have to give ourselves time to grieve, and this is hard work. We also have to practice self-compassion and radical kindness with ourselves. This gives us space to work through all of the complicated feelings such as regret, sadness, anger, and loneliness. That which we do not grieve will always come back to haunt us. The grief work also gives us time to become who we are becoming. If we do the grief work, and give ourselves time we may find that we do not really regret the breakup. If after the time, we still find regret, the we can look at the pros and the cons of rekindling the relationship.
SupportiveMemory2727
February 16th, 2022 12:52am
Consider all the reasons for your break up. How did they treat you, did they respect you, did you feel loved and appreciated by them. Remember the feelings associated with the reasons you broke up. Did you smile, laugh, or even feel relaxed. Or did you feel tense and not knowing what the next moment may bring. Now consider why you are really feeling the way you do in the present moment. Is it regret or perhaps loneliness. You are worth every bit of happiness. There was a reason you broke up and you deserve to trust yourself in that decision. What are your thoughts on this ?
uniquecreature41
February 19th, 2022 9:13pm
Examine why you broke up; what did you not know then that you know now? Was the break up really the worst thing that could have happened? Do you even have a new found appreciation for your ex? Maybe let them know this, that's always good to hear! If they're willing to talk, great but if not, let things be for at least 12 weeks. By then your feelings may have changed and you might come to realise that your gut instinct was right first time. A bit of space might be one of the best things that could have happened in your relationship with that person. In the meantime, take care of yourself and keep busy!
Anonymous
July 2nd, 2016 4:29pm
I think you should evaluate why did you break up and if the person is worth trying again. Why do you care about that person? Does that person makes you a better you?
Anonymous
July 9th, 2016 12:19pm
Try to talk to your ex to see if ya'll can move on and try to explain why you did it in the first place.
Anonymous
July 23rd, 2016 1:22pm
Reconsidering the reasons you had for the break-up in the first place would make a good first step. If you really feel they weren't valid and that you were wrong or acting impulsively than I guess all you can do is sit that person down and honestly tell them how you feel. There's still not much we can do if the other person decides not to give us a second chance..
uniqueMango45
July 27th, 2016 1:16am
Write a list of pros and cons of breaking up with them, do the same for them as a person, and the relationship as a whole. Sometimes people regret things we shouldn't - you ended the relationship for a reason and you may be forgetting why. If not, figure out exactly what to say and then approach them gently, telling them you expect nothing in return but wanted to get this off of your chest.
amemerica
July 28th, 2016 6:36pm
Think about why you broke up with this person. If it was for a reason you don't believe was worth the falling out, you can talk to them and discuss what went wrong in your relationship, and see if you could try the relationship again. If they disagree, it's okay to feel upset, but you should know that it's normal. If they agree, be sure to go over what should change in the relationship so a problem like this can be successfully avoided.
Ashoulder91
July 31st, 2016 1:49am
The first step would be self reflection on why you broke up with them to begin with, and determine if it's the route you really want to take. If you still want them back. Then you'll have to apologize and attempt to make things right if they give you the chance.
Musicl0vr
July 31st, 2016 3:26am
Talk it out. It's okay to reach out and talk about your feelings. First, recall your reasons for breaking up in the first place. Avoid any situations which make you feel badly. Remember, you left for a reason. If you cannot come to terms with it still, ask them to meet up and talk.
Anonymous
August 3rd, 2016 5:02am
Think about why you guys broke up and if the reason is still there. If you still want to give it another go then organise a time to meet up and maybe bring it up over a cup of coffee.
SomeRandomNiceGuy
August 3rd, 2016 7:27am
Is he/she already seeing someone? If yes, then just accept it and move on. If no, then try talking to him/her about what you feel.
LoverOfHappiness
August 6th, 2016 7:29am
Have a nice quiet alone time with yourself. Make sure you want to take the venture out to going back to your ex, because you broke up for a reason. See if the reason was a valid one in your book and if you still feel it was a mistake; then by all means take a time to have a face to face discussion with your ex and see where that leaves the two of you.
Anonymous
August 10th, 2016 3:46am
Think about what you want. Think about why you're missing them. Is it because you're lonely, or because you genuinely want them back in your life?
Supergirl94
August 10th, 2016 5:52am
Talk to them. Explain what happened, how you felt afterwards and why you regret breaking up with them, why you want to be together with them again
justheretohelpyou
August 21st, 2016 8:35pm
The most important thing after a breakup is to give the other person some time and space to think. You should use this time wisely too, find an alternative distraction and find something creative to do to turn any negative thoughts you may be having into positive ones. After that, writing down how you feel is a good start, and then you can be completely honest about how you feel with your ex, tell them how you're feeling once you have given them the time and space you need, they might not want to get back together, but don't let that deter you, a good friendship is the best possible thing that can come out of a situation like this :D
GeekRabbit
August 23rd, 2016 12:52am
Ask yourself if you really miss him as a person, or you just miss the relationship, having someone, os having something stable.
Anonymous
August 24th, 2016 3:28am
I feel as thought you should try talking to your ex, if that doesn't work. Try to refrain from contact of wanting to get in a relationship and just stay friends, and see where it goes from there.
gentleLight16
August 26th, 2016 10:17am
That will be determined by led to the break up, if it is something fixable that you overacted on without being rational then you can request to meet with him and apologize and see if he is still available for and willing to fix things . If he has moved on already then learn from the mistake and make sure that you do not repeat it in the next relationship
exquisiteLion14
August 27th, 2016 6:10am
Perhaps identify why you broke up with him in the first place? And ask yourself why you regret this decision now?
CharlieMorningstar
September 8th, 2016 5:35am
Remember why you broke up with your ex and consider if every reason still applies. Consider why you regret the breakup now--are you just lonely? Do you miss them as they are now, or the person they used to be? Remember that life and experiences change people, and your ex is not the same person they were when you first started dating.
Anonymous
October 23rd, 2016 2:05pm
Think about why you break up with him/her in the first place. If it is a good reason like he cheAted on you, don't go back to him and move on
MessengerOfPeace01
November 3rd, 2016 1:44pm
Firstly, never regret anything you do in your life, never. All what happens to you is either good or it teaches you something, it is never a real loss, even when you don't see it but you always gain something or learn something. Second thing, if you really feel that you want to be with your ex then figure out first what is the real reason you broke up and think about it and after that find out if your ex feels the same way, if it all fits then just have a talk.
tooviolent4u
November 11th, 2016 6:07pm
Re-think the situation, have you tried your best? if you have then there isnt anything else you can do knowing that you did your best to save your relationship.
Anonymous
December 8th, 2016 5:53pm
Take some time to really examine what you are feeling, and what it is exactly that you regret. Is it the person in particular? or is it the comfort and growth from having a specific person in your life that you miss? Also, take some time to think about why the break up happened. What wasn't working? why was breaking up a better option at the time than working on it together? Knowing some of the answers to these things can help you decide how to go forward. But keep in mind, break ups are hard on both sides. The other person will need to answer these things for themselves, too, and a conversation where both parties listen actively and patiently to the other will have to happen to see what steps my be possible next.
HeartofaPhoenix
February 5th, 2017 5:37am
Give yourself adequate time to heal. Ask yourself why you chose to end the relationship. Where there legitimate concerns about both physical and mental safety that led you to make this decision? Ask yourself why you want this partner back in your life. Make sure they are healthy reasons and not simply because you are lonely. If you decide to attempt reconciliation, apologize and ask for another chance; however, you also need to be prepared to be rebuffed. Your ex may be hurting or simply may be unwilling to try the relationship again. If either of these cases prove true, you'll need to allow adequate time for your ex to heal and for your own healing to take place.