8 Hidden Psychological Reasons You Can’t Let Go of Your Ex

KOMAL SINGH Image Credit- Unsplash

Romantic bonds activate powerful brain chemicals (dopamine, oxytocin). Even after a breakup, your brain keeps craving that high

[{"selector":"#anim-aada832d-86ee-4405-9a45-f199e0cd74f0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-7.812499744007886%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-be7e697c-a54d-487e-b2ab-8ba752ea9ba8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93c2ca70-99a7-41e8-a548-4aa0141bc8ca","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 49.74186%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-db4fc887-8c52-4407-9d98-fdc4404752f9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fce770e2-f79b-4a50-82ad-ae7720506e66","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(109.85508%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1000,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

You tend to remember the good and block the bad making your ex seems “perfect” in hindsight.

[{"selector":"#anim-e586d271-e975-4ec5-b7c2-f331c71927e2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-40.99264685550287%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3064e06b-4df6-4d78-8250-07a1e55091d9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b3cb70a2-ee77-49a5-90c7-de849b78e3fe","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 49.74186%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-62bb5803-ca31-46f7-b1fe-ae9d6f836e6f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-832984ed-82b7-4d4b-8e14-c210fb2400fc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(103.10881%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1000,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

You fear starting over. The emotional void post-breakup can feel bigger than the relationship itself

[{"selector":"#anim-388c99a8-bb91-489c-88a9-796d1c3ec762 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-7.812499744007886%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7364ac53-08e6-4a7e-a457-5f8c0fac82e6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8d34f936-e44b-4a2f-895a-1731916c57da","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 49.74186%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8855b2d9-bb91-4fb7-82db-7f237266eed1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b7d06d58-a543-4d32-91c2-a09c653161c3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(103.10881%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1000,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

When your identity was wrapped up in the relationship, losing it feels like losing yourself too

[{"selector":"#anim-49bfbf7e-d535-4960-a37d-f09c35b783e1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-41.72794096639172%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-69d944e8-7f63-4a3a-b2c3-40e1ca001324","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bae2b02a-ec1a-4b27-9bf9-dfa9c7594009","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 49.74186%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4e7f8752-a087-4cfe-9971-32b0cf948d60","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-71769b3c-7218-4a35-a111-f40710315fa1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(103.36788%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1000,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Daily habits like texting, calling, or planning life together become emotional anchors. Letting go feels like losing stability

[{"selector":"#anim-74c4b276-3859-4e6c-bd95-5e4f232e7eb6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-23.316616007425218%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c38db662-3db9-4ae4-966b-32c4aba9e794","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-21a07704-51bf-45f8-a6fb-e002b3baef68","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 49.74186%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5eb8486c-d8ed-41a6-80d5-faa8856068d4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-18109ec8-1eac-4cd6-8edc-b760ce84bae8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(103.66491%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1000,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

You may replay your mistakes, thinking you could’ve fixed it—trapping yourself in regret and self-doubt

[{"selector":"#anim-930135f5-abf8-46b1-b8b4-caa3a442b0c3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-7.815143568051004%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e3553bc0-cc0c-4caf-9548-34ace2fc10a4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0ed6f6b4-b9ff-4683-816d-f3c46024ef81","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 49.74186%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d2132a48-e992-4d3f-b2f6-b80241352ddb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b3415a85-c3ce-4c9d-9f37-698a388629ff","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(108.88252%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1000,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

A small voice says, “Maybe they’ll come back.” This hope real or imagined prevents full emotional release

[{"selector":"#anim-5d524132-97c8-4b8e-841e-3cda21bded95 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-7.812499744007886%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5c27ac0f-2cf5-4eca-a7ab-a240d0dfe0c2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ca2f3683-2460-4e84-91ab-90ad46d945ba","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 49.74186%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9013c998-dc2b-4789-9d30-8f41df862238","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bc9e2efe-0b38-4fbe-b0c2-c095145274e4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(104.21052%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1000,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]