Breakups already suck, but one of the things that can make them even more awful is if you were in a long distance relationship. If this is the case, it is likely that you were not dumped face to face, but rather via phone, text, email, Skype, maybe even snail mail. This can make the separation process more difficult in many ways, but it can also make it easier too, depending on how you look at it.
I’ve never been in a long distance relationship, because I asked some of the ladies who are dealing with the situation to give me some help. I got a lot of great pointers, many from women who had successfully gotten their ex’s back who they were in a long distance relationship with!
The overall main piece of advice that I got also lined up nicely with what the first step of the Ex Boyfriend Recovery Program is: No Contact.
For many people, No Contact is the hardest part of the process. But because your relationship was long distance, you will have some distinct advantages.
Embrace No Contact
No Contact is an extremely important time period in the Ex Boyfriend Recovery process, possibly the most important part. This period acts as a reset so that you are able to gain back your confidence, and get back to a more emotionally centered place.
After your breakup, it is understandable that you would be emotional. I imagine long distance breakups are even more difficult in some ways because you don’t always see it coming. In all of my past breakups, I’ve sensed my guy pull away a bit before the end, so I had the heads up that something was wrong, and I wasn’t super surprised when he ended it (though I was definitely still heartbroken). In a long distance relationship, it’s harder to see those signs, so I imagine that there are even more instances of it feeling like the breakup came out of the blue.
But this is good when it comes to No Contact. You want that distance there. The distance is your friend. Sure, you still have to see his name in your phone and his picture on social media, but you don’t run the same risk of, say, running into him on campus or at the grocery store.
Put him out of your mind as best as you can for your No Contact period, whether it be 21, 30, or 45 days.
A couple of the girls on the Facebook group offered the very wise counsel and advice to come back to yourself during your no contact period. Take the time to embrace being alone and think about what you can do to make yourself happy.
Chances are, you were putting a ton of effort into your long distance relationship. I’m sure it put a strain not only on the bond between you and your partner, but also on you and your lifestyle. So during No Contact, embrace the time to get back to your roots. Instead of logging onto Skype at 9pm each night to talk to your guy, go out dancing with friends, or have dinner with your sister. Call your mom. Work on all of the relationships that inevitably got less attention when you were nurturing your relationship.
And take the time to think about you and what you want. It could very well be that after thinking it through, you realize that the whole long distance thing wasn’t working for you anyway, and you may find you enjoy your independence. The bottom line is, take some time and energy for yourself. It will act as a reset between you and your ex, help you to get your bearings, and it will likely make him miss you.
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The Tightrope between Friends with Benefits and the Friend zone
Once you and your guy are back in contact, pay close attention to how he is acting towards you. You’ll want to try and gauge where you fall between the two categories of Friends with Benefits and The friend zone.
Friends with Benefits is a little harder long distance, obviously, but it is possible. Your ex could want sexy photos and texts, phone sex, skype sex. And if you guys do get to the point of a meetup, he may be hoping to get physical.
On the other hand, you have another, probably more dangerous category: the friend zone. When you and your ex were in a long distance relationship, he probably considered you his main friend and confidante. It’s going to be hard to let that go.
My ex and I were in the opposite of a long distance relationship, but it’s still very clear he views me as the primary person he feels comfortable being vulnerable around, and he still considers me his best friend. People are habit forming, and it’s difficult to let go of someone you were so comfortable around…even if they are miles and miles away.
So what you have to do is walk the tightrope between the friends with benefits, and the friend zone. This means not letting things get too comfortable on a friend level – you want him to be vulnerable around you – that is your power, but you don’t want him to get comfortable with you in that space. Because of that, you should keep up some flirting in your communications so that he has no choice but to see you in an attractive light.
But you can’t go too far with that, of course, because then you get stuck with him texting and calling you late at night when he’s drunk, lonely, and horny.
Other techniques you can use to maintain this balance include:
The Push/Pull Theory – When he starts getting close, push him away. When you sense him pulling away, you pull back too. Many women tend to do the opposite, and when their guy starts pulling away, they start pushing. Sometimes guys just need space. It is important to give it to them. They will always be back. Men are built to chase. Let him.
What Are Your Chances of Getting Your Ex Boyfriend Back?
Take the quizDon’t Be Too Available – When you were in a long distance relationship with your guy, you probably turned down a lot of fun things so that you could go home and chat with him at a time that worked for both of your locations. Once you two are broken up, you are no longer required to make those sacrifices. Go out and make him wonder what you’re up up and why you’re not answering your phone.
Jealousy – Piggy-backing off of the idea of making him wonder: Add some jealousy techniques. Mention a guy’s name in passing. Post pictures of you out at the club looking hot. Remind him of what he can’t have – what is no longer his.
Circle of Influence – If you can use your ex’s family and friends to your advantage in a long distance relationship, do it. People care about what their friends and family think of the person they are seeing. So if you can use social media and friend/family connections to your advantage, do it.
Positive Memories – One of the wonderful ladies on our group mentioned that she texted he ex a lot of memory texts. Even if he was far away, she was able to give him a positive memory of a time that the two of them shared together. This builds up positive feelings, even from miles away.
Leave Him Hanging – When you guys do talk, always be sure to end the conversation on a high note. You want him to be thinking really positively about you, and then cut the conversation short so that those positive feelings continue even after you’re no longer on the other end of the line.
Social Media – One of your biggest advantages in trying to get your long distance ex back is social media. Use facebook to show him what you’re up to, but don’t totally overdo it, either. Post about things you know he’ll find interesting, and see if you can link your conversations to the posts you make (this will also give you a sense of if he’s checking your profile). Use jealousy tactics on social media sparingly, especially if your guy is super sensitive and doesn’t respond well to jealousy. Overall, show your ex via social media what a blast you’re having. You want them to start thinking “does she even miss me?”
Long Distance and the Other Woman
If your ex is in a new relationship with another woman (almost certainly a rebound), and you are trying to get him back, I would recommend using all of the above, but I would also recommend adding the Being There method.
The idea behind this is that you stay present in your ex’s life, trying to slowly drive a wedge between him and his new girlfriend.
A good way to do this is to utilize the concept of vulnerability. Guys have a hard time being vulnerable, but they typically feel more comfortable being vulnerable around women. I suspect this is why so many guys jump into rebounds – whether it be purely physical or also emotional. They seek connection on both levels. So if you can stay in your ex’s life as a person he feels comfortable being vulnerable with, you will automatically have the power.
Meetups
Unfortunately, your biggest frustration in your relationship (the distance) will also be your biggest frustration as you try to get your ex back. Setting up a meet up is hard. Especially if you guys are very far away or his job keeps him from being able to leave.
Rapport is probably the biggest thing to make a meetup happen. After all, it is going to involve a lot of effort on both of your parts, so he is going to have to be relatively invested. I think the closer you are to rekindling a romantic relationship, the easier it will be to get him to meet up. If there is flirting, vulnerability, and positive rapport, it may be the right time to suggest a meeting.
It may take time, though. After all, you guys won’t have seen each other since before you broke up, most likely. And it could be that there are other things that are keeping him from being able to see you, too, like his job, his rebound, or other obligations. Tread carefully, here, as you don’t want to spook him.
It should be mentioned though, that skype and/or facetime is a great substitute for meetups. If you’re communicating regularly face to face that way, I think you’re on the right path. Building positive rapport and keeping the lines of communication and vulnerability open are absolutely key. Keep chipping away at that block of ice that is your guy’s stubbornness, and it’s likely he’ll melt eventually.
Getting an ex back is hard work, but it’s even tougher when you’re so far away from one another. There is a lot of emotions that play into the decision, and you have to communicate to make sure that you’re on the same page.
Willow and Tara are one of my favorite couples in Buffy. They break up for a period of time in season 6, but eventually reconcile. Tara points out to Willow that the process of rekindling their relationship will take time and effort from both sides:
“There’s just so much to work through. Trust has be to built again on both sides. You have to learn if we’re even the same people we were. If you can fit in each other’s lives. It’s a long and important process.”
Emotional Cool
It is always important to keep grounded emotionally when trying to get an ex back, but I would say it is especially important in a long distance situation because so much of your communication is via text or phone, where you can’t sense tone or body language. Because of this, it is very important to stay in control of how you feel and not blow up or get emotional when things get tough.
Your time with your ex is even more limited and precious in this situation, so it is doubly important to keep all communications positive between you two. That obviously doesn’t mean that things can’t get serious (vulnerability is often serious), but you should try to keep an eye on the big picture and not sweat the small stuff.
At the end of the day, the only person’s actions that you can control are your own.
What Are Your Chances of Getting Your Ex Boyfriend Back?
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The Journey
The process of trying to get a long distance ex back is a frustrating one. But if you are successful, imagine how much stronger your relationship will be once the two of you are back together. You’ll have re-established intimacy on an emotional level and will have spent a lot of time deepening your connection.
You’ll learn more about yourself and your relationship as you work through this process, and ultimately, that is what matters.
Marco
February 24, 2022 at 8:50 am
What if the one who has been ditched, for someone else, is the man?
What should he do?
EBR Team Member: Shaunna
February 26, 2022 at 12:24 pm
Hey Macro the same information applies just roles reversed 🙂
gudiya
September 16, 2021 at 7:25 pm
i hav been in longdistance for 6 months and done a lot of begging and pleading for 2.5 months.i have asked many of his friends to convince him.he stays pissed of with me and neither he initiates contact or anything.I want him bck .i dont know what to do since it is LDR i cant meet him personally also
EBR Team Member: Shaunna
September 23, 2021 at 4:42 pm
Hi Gudiya, I would suggest that you start following the No Contact rule and that also goes for his friends too. You need to stop before he labels you as a crazy ex girlfriend.
Jax
July 31, 2021 at 7:37 am
I met a guy precovid he lives in Spain i live in New York. He flew back February 2020. Covid hit in March. We talked everyday for months, he became my best friend, there was ups and downs but nothing crazy ever. We really did work well. April 2021 hits i was getting fustrated at this point I’d never see him so he asked off from work to prove to me he is coming but Europeans still couldn’t come to America. i felt bad he asked off and couldn’t get it back.. and i took off those weeks and we were supposed to travel together. Beginning of June hits (we were supposed to meet end of June) I was a little tired and stressed one day and i broke up with him before the trip but immediately regretted it. He than gave me the silent treatment which caused me to chase him and lead me blocked. But i understand what i did hurt him and i miss him very much. I just want to fix it, we officially been no contact for almost 5 weeks. Please help me.
Shie
April 26, 2021 at 4:54 am
My ex just dumped me , 2 weeks now we were in a long distance relationship for over 2 years it was just an argument after all he said he’s done with. Supposed to be he will travel here last year but since pandemic came the flight was cancelled. We planned to have family in future he’s way older than me he was always busy so am I but if we have time back we spend that for us. We were happy and inlove with each other then now it happens we argued things , I supposed not to tell what I had found out he was in page of some lot girls mostly selling their private parts but I told him that he said since he’s that bad person I should leave and find someone else better , he said he’s done ..
And that I couldn’t sleep all night he blocked me in FB … So I always message him thru email , or other social media and I message him in WhatsApp yet he blocked me again it’s been 2 weeks I think he really don’t want to talk to me again. I even create another account yet ended block again. The promises we had to make family , the ideas we had for future , the shared laughs are all gone I badly want him back can I still have him ?
andrea
January 11, 2021 at 9:30 am
My LDR ex boyfriend dumped me last Dec.12 2020, our relationship lasted for only 11 months. We should have celebrated our 1st Anniversary on New Year but we broke up already. He said he had enough of me and his feelings fade away until he doesn’t love me anymore. I asked him if he had another girl, and he said none. We NEVER MET in person, we’re just chatting and having video calls in thru relationship… but he made effort and surprises especially on special occasion like my birthday. He let me also meet his family and we were very close. We’re open both with our families.Things went smooth and good. We were happy and inlove with each other. We talked about marriage when he comes home in December but then there is the pandemic. We call each other everyday, he calls me when I got home from work and before he goes to his work… Not until this August 2020, he changed his job, he worked 10 hours for 6 days and they were 4 hours behind us, I am also working. (abu dhabi and philippines). Our conversation gone short, our video call is only once a week (his day off) and there were times that I was sulking and nagging him often. I’m also stressed and pressure from my work that’s why I’m easily get irritated and angry. I tried begging him to give me a chance and fix it, because I know that I had a fault too. I tried no contact but I ended up messaging him again after 3 to 4 days… When I do no contact this time seriously will I get a chance to get him back or it is too late already? He said he doesn’t love me anymore, he seems to be happy. It’s been a month since we broke up. Can I still get him back? Please help me.
EBR Team Member: Shaunna
January 19, 2021 at 11:40 pm
Hi Andrea, yes there is still a chance, you just need to start following the program starting with a full no contact and work on yourself in that time. Read more articles that apply to your situation so that you know what your next moves are.
Das
November 9, 2020 at 6:51 am
Hi, my LDR boyfriend just recently broke up with me over a call after 1 1/2 year in LDR and known him almost two years. Our age gap was about seven years. Through out the relationship, I met him once in his city. That was the time we decided to start the LDR. I am always there for him mentally via phone call whenever bad things happen to people around him. I’m just being there to support and loving him. Our plan to close the distance was somewhere in the future we do talk about it sometimes and asked about our daily lives. Just two weeks ago, something came up and in that process he met someone else. He was being honest with me and saying that he likes her. My heart just sinked and speechless. He told me that throughout our relationship he truly loves me and care for me. Just because of the distance he was feeling lonely and empty. And he reminded me that he really do loves me and cherish the memories of us together. At first, I cried as he said that but I ended up saying I would want to continue this friendship even though our relationship was over. I told him that I will always be here if he needs me, if he wants to share anything with me or even just anything really. We decided not to block each other but just “try” to be friends even we were lovers. He was reluctant at first but he respect my decision. I do hope that someday we will get back together. But for now, I’m truly lost of direction and heartbroken as we always talked and call most of the days. Please help.
EBR Team Member: Shaunna
November 13, 2020 at 8:42 pm
Hi Das, you need to read the articles and follow the program if you want to get your ex back, starting with a no contact
Yuzu
September 7, 2020 at 11:47 am
Hello. My ex broke up with me in July. We were together about 10months. Start til now, we were LDR(Japan and Philippines. We are both female). We knew LDR is hard, but it was fine til July. Why we broke up, LDR, and I couldn’t treat well when she got relatives problem, so she need time for herself. She mentioned that she is not sure when she can redeem herself, so she didn’t want me wait her.
When broke up, it was peaceful, but still I was sending messages to her every day, and sometimes she said “I miss you.” “I wish you were here” that kinda message me. Therefore, I expected that might get back together soon.
However, suddenly she said “we should cut message. So you can move on easily.” Then blocked me on FB. It was Aug. I was so upset that time, so I wrote many feeling on my personal Twitter account (she didn’t know, but I wrong pressed her Twitter, so she noticed that my Twitter account) , so she blocked that account and tweeted “you dirty c*nt” on her Twitter. Probably it’s me.
I know I messed up everything, but I’m still want to get back together with her. I love her so much.
Before started pandemic, I was considering to work in the Philippines next year for with her. If I could get back together, I would work there for with her.
Also I’m considering to send Christmas cards and letter in Dec. I really want to get back together.
Please help me. Thank you!
EBR Team Member: Shaunna
September 11, 2020 at 9:20 pm
Hey Yuzu, do not send a letter or Christmas card, make sure that you complete your NC and then start texting phase like Chris explains in his articles
Caitlin Palmertree
September 7, 2020 at 4:11 am
My long distance ex boyfriend and I had a big fight at the beginning of August. Background- He had moved away for a job after he graduated, about 2 months into us dating, and the plan was for me to move with him when I graduate next spring. We were together for a little under a year.
I had always wanted to return to the town we went to college in, but he wanted to stay in the town where he had been hired for a few years. I made the mistake of getting overly emotional and telling him how much it hurt that he wasn’t willing to move back, when I was willing to move to him. He said he was feeling overwhelmed and didn’t want me to make sacrifices for him and grow to hate him, and we did not talk for 5 days until I reached out and we communicated our thoughts and made up. I thought everything was going ok. He had a big surprise for me for my birthday the next week, was telling me he loved me, told me he’d be my date to my friends wedding, he got protective when someone flirted with me, his mom was talking to me like normal and inviting me to their place, he made plans to visit me in my college town, etc.
About 2 or 3 weeks after I visited for my birthday, I could tell something was wrong. He said he did not feel well and didn’t feel like talking, but then went out with a coworker after work. When we he called, I was understandably upset, and he apologized and I asked if there was something wrong. He admitted that since our fight, he had been confused about how he felt about our relationship. He said I was his best friend and that he cared about me deeply, but when I asked if he loved me still, he couldn’t give me a straight answer. I made the mistake of pushing, and saying “either you want to be with me and you love me or do you don’t, its a yes or no question, not maybe.” This made him angry and he repeatedly said “I don’t know, I’m confused,” until I pushed him to say “no, its over, I don’t love you anymore.” I told him he was making a mistake and that he would regret it because we were great together and I did so much for him. He said he knew he would regret it and be sad but it was for the best. I ended the call by saying “Do not speak to me unless you are ready to apologize. I love you but I am very hurt right now.”
We have not spoken in a week. I deleted him from my social media because it was too painful, but he has kept our mutual friends and my mom. He hasn’t deleted me from our gaming app either. His mother is also still friends with me on social media. His indecisiveness to break up and this behavior on social media gives me hope he will come back.
yas
July 20, 2020 at 8:33 am
Hi, my ex broke up with me after 4 weeks of long distance – before that we had been together and lived with each other for the past 9 months (on our year abroad, we got together after a month of living together). i know i found the distance hard and so did he
, but we had plans to meet up next week and i thought we were prepared to make the effort to see each other, what makes it hard is the breakup was out of the blue and i know he is grieving family atm and i worry that is why he broke up so suddenly.
we are planning on keeping the plans to see each other but i am worried about what it’ll be like and that he definitely wont want me back
Grace
July 8, 2020 at 3:47 am
Hello, my ex-fiance broke up with me about a month and a week ago. We were together for a total of 3 years and 5 months: our first 2.5 years were spent together, and the past academic year was spent apart in a LDR. The engagement was about 6 months long. I am also his first relationship: he’s 29 and I’m 22. We were both very happy, and it was a strong relationship built on strong foundations, but since COVID-19 happened, we haven’t seen each other since the end of December. He broke up with me suddenly following a fight, saying that it “wasn’t the right decision” for him to keep going, and that he wants to give up on the relationship. Coincidentally, it was a fight about moving our wedding date up a few months. He also mentioned he had been feeling doubts for a few months, but he never mentioned anything until AFTER he broke up with me. When I asked him what his doubts stemmed from, he couldn’t give me an answer and kept saying how it just wasn’t the right decision for him to continue our relationship. He was very vocal about how guilty he felt for hurting me, and did say that what he was feeling wasn’t cold feet and that it was nothing I did, nor was it the relationship. I know he invested a lot into the relationship because he was very proactive over the years in planning our future, our wedding, and even told me how much he loved me and how he can’t wait to marry me the day he broke up with me. The only thing that springs to mind was that, since COVID-19 started, we were fighting a little more frequently, but about petty things and things out of our control. At the time of the breakup, I did beg and plead, but when we talked maybe 3 times over the following 2 weeks so I could get closure, I took it like a queen and definitely was the bigger person. Then I did NC for a little under 3 weeks before I cracked and texted him last Friday. It was a very neutral text, and his reply was neutral, but I went back into NC. He is moving soon for a new job in August, but he’ll be home (we’re from the same town) for a few weeks in July.
Since quarantine began, his identical twin brother came to live with him for safety purposes. They are both extremely close and I’m worried that him being with his twin has made him emotionally unavailable to me. I know that he hasn’t been talking about the breakup to anyone, including his family and friends, and he has been throwing himself into work. I also know that there is no other woman in the picture. When he gets to Austin, he’ll be alone since his twin will be going back to his city.
Any ideas about what happened, and what I should do moving forward? Thank you in advance!
EBR Team Member: Shaunna
August 4, 2020 at 7:39 pm
Hi Grace, it could be that he is questioning things because of the time apart along with the fighting that has been going on. I would suggest that you allow him a full 30 days NC not 3 weeks as you are going to start falling into a pattern. You need to work on your Holy Trinity and show your ex that you are doing great even though you are broken up and then when it comes to the texting phase, make sure you have read the articles to help you create the right types of conversations with your ex
Ray
May 11, 2020 at 8:49 pm
Hello, my boyfriend of 1 year and 9 months broke up with me a week ago today. The decision to break up was mutual because it’s been hard and the distance has always made things hard but not hard enough to ultimately make us break up. We’ve been arguing off and on the last few months and he wasn’t ready to completely break up until about 2 months ago. He decided that we both need this because our relationship had become a toxic one. We were VERY close…. About as close as you can get for a long distance couple, we just starting dating a little too early and that’s what made it hard. We only got to see eachother about 5 days each month and sometimes more but we talked throughout the day and every night when we were apart. We talked very seriously about marriage and how and where we are going to live. I didn’t get to visit his family as much as he did mine but our families have a VERY long history of friendship. Anyways, what made the mutual breakup so hard is that I could tell something was different about his attitude when we broke up over the phone. It felt like he didn’t see a future with me anymore and that there wasn’t a chance in getting back together…. That of course made me go into an emotional panic and I texted him all day the next day because I needed to know that he wasn’t giving up on the idea of me and him getting back together when we’re both the best us we can be…. I shouldn’t have done that but I finally calmed down and stopped after we talked on the phone one more time. He told me “if you focus on yourself and be the best you you can be, there’s always a chance…. But right now we need to stop”. Since then we have not communicated. I’m so terrified that he’s going to find someone and she’s going to love all his wonderful qualities and that’ll be it for us… What do you think?
EBR Team Member: Shaunna
May 20, 2020 at 12:00 pm
Hi Ray, most have the same fear that they are going to meet someone else and move on, and often it happens where they date others while you are focusing on yourself. I would suggest that during your NC that you focus on your Holy trinity and work out if you and he have a future together, where you are living in the same area. As long distance relationships can only work for so long before someone would need to take the step to be with the other person to make things work long term
Aynaz
May 2, 2020 at 1:39 pm
Hello,my boyfriend and I are together for 5 months. And we wanted to meet but suddenly all the borders are closed becuz of pandemic and he couldn’t come to my country. He told me he was serious about me and wanted to marry me and all days and nights he texted me and told me he is waiting for the borders to be open again to come and see me as soon as possible. but suddenly he dissapeard. It’s been 5 days since he didn’t replied my msges but he is active on instagram and he sees all my stories on instagram. I want to text him and ask him what’s wrong with him becuz i haven’t done somthing wrong and the last text of him was couple of kiss emojies. I don’t want to swallow my pride . My friends say if he loved me he wouldn’t put himself in this situation. I should tell you that he dissapeard 2 months ago but came back after two weeks and told me he wasn’t in a good mood and asked me to excuse him.
I don’t know what to do know. I’m really confused should I text him?thank u for helping me
EBR Team Member: Shaunna
May 7, 2020 at 8:11 pm
Aynaz, when reading this you need to take into account your relationship has been so short and he has disappeared for the second time, it is totally up to you if you accept this behaviour from someone who tells you they love you. However I would consider why they think it is acceptable to drop you when they are not feeling in a good mood. For such a length of time too. I would complete a No Contact period where you do not reply or reach out to him at all and let him see that you are not willing to be treated this way, if he does not reach out to you before the 45 day period I would then reach out if you really want them in your life
Tracy
March 27, 2020 at 6:57 am
Hello, my ex and I broke up on the third of March. We were in a long-distance relationship and have been together for a little over a year. From the 3rd to the 13th we were going back-and-forth arguing. On the 15th he reached out, now we text as friends and we facetimed 3 times already. I want to get back with him. Originally I broke up with him late February due to my insecurities, I gave him some time to decide if he wanted to get back but he didn’t wanna get back together. He said on ft he still loves me and that he wants me to move out there but that is the only way he can see us working out. I don’t know what to do to get him back but I’m hoping I can get him back during the quarantine. There’s nothing really wrong in our relationship. We barely got in to arguments, his family likes me, we have the same sense of humor, and etc. I realize my actions that pushed him away. Please help. Thanks!
EBR Team Member: Shaunna
March 30, 2020 at 11:29 pm
Hi Tracy, so you would need to complete a NC and stop being friends with your ex for now, as you want a relationship with him not a friendship. Work the Holy Trinity and focus on yourself and getting over insecurities, learning how to control them
Anna
January 6, 2020 at 3:46 pm
Hi, I’ve been talking to a a guy for a few months and we’ve never met because of a long distance work term, but had a great connection. Finally when we met, we hit it off and were really compatible. I was getting mixed signals to what he wanted because there were a lot of signs he wanted something serious, but when I asked him where this was going, he said he wanted to be friends with benefits because there is no point in getting into something serious because he’s leaving again permanently in a few months. I told him I was looking for something more serious and he repeated the fact he was leaving and said it was too bad because he thinks we’re really compatible. I’m really upset because I feel like I finally met someone good and for the first time I was happy in such a long time and now it feels like we’re only being separated by distance. Now I just wonder did he ever really like me after all that time and actually wanted something serious up until he knew he was leaving? Or did he always just play along for months through long distance just for sex?
EBR Team Member: Shaunna
January 11, 2020 at 3:00 am
Hey Anna, I am sorry I cant really answer that for you, only he could but I do not advise asking him. If he is leaving and there is not going to be open to a long distance relationship it may be time to just accept that this is the reality of your situation and start dating casually until you are feeling you are over this guy
Mary
December 20, 2019 at 7:52 pm
Hi, I’m so heartbroken.
My ex broke with me yesterday. We were in a face to face relationship for a year, then he leave for school and we committed to a LDR for a year and a half, a total of 2 years and 6 months being a couple. I reallly really really didn’t see this coming, 10 days before breaking up he told me that I was so good to him, he told me that please never give up on him or us, that I was for sure the love of his live and that he wanted everything with me. I saw him last week, I visited him and i though we were just fine… he confessed that he had cheated on me hours before I arrived, days after he told me that I was the one without a doubt.
I cannot believed that he cheated, not after all we have been trough after all the love we have. We weren’t a toxic relationship at all, I mean everyone said that we were so rare so unreal…
I love him so so so much.. I don’t know if I want him back because I feel like I can’t trust him because of the cheating plus the LDR, but I just want him to love me, to worry about me, to stay in touch, to be friends but really close friends and maybe In a future, be the strong and loving couple we were.
Please advice me, do we have a future right now? Or maybe later? Can we and how can we be friends?
EBR Team Member: Shaunna
December 23, 2019 at 2:45 pm
Hi Mary, I can’t really tell you if you can be friends or not that is up to you and him – can you be friends with someone you say you love being just friends is going to be tough for you emotionally. Asking if you have a future with your ex as in a future relationship, also depends on what you and he want from each other, does he want to get back together? Is the long distance permanent or is there a plan to get you both together again? For now while you are hurting you can do a no contact to get over your pain and see what actions he takes not hearing from you
Tina
December 19, 2019 at 1:19 am
Hello,
My ex and I knew of each other for a long time, but were never friends and lived in different countries. One by chance meet up, we felt a spark, and we started dating. Although it was a long distance relationship, we saw each other very often, weeks in a row.
The relationship progressed really fast, and we actively started dreaming and planning the future together. I decided to move to where he is living right now, and he asked me to move in with him once I do, and was really excited about it. We also talked about what will happen a year after- he has to move back home, and wanted me to come with him.
A month ago, he had a conversation with his father (we are in our early 20s and still have our parents paying for everything), which resulted in him saying I can’t move in with him, because his family would be visiting a lot and it would be uncomfortable. He also said he is very stressed out because the move to his home country in a year from now won’t be as he envisioned- his father has different plans for him, which include moving around a lot, and taking care of family business.
He said he is going through things, but wants to figure it all, find a solution and make us work.
I visited him a week or so after, and felt he was acting differently. We were fighting all the time. I even left his place, but he came back saying he was sorry- and he was filling off with all the new plans, but that he will try figuring it out and make us work, because I’m the most important thing.
A week later, he broke up with me after another fight over the phone (there have been a lot more since the conversation with his father, since I started feeling insecure because he acted differently), saying how his feelings have changed, and how he was selfish to be planning all out future together, when he needs to be there for his family, that he can’t be in a relationship right now, and how he will hurt me in the end. How maybe he will regret it later, but it’s the only healthy option right now, because I deserve the best and he can’t give it to me now.
It has been 2 weeks since our last phone call conversation.
I’m still moving to where he lives in January.
He has deleted out pictures from social media, after I did, and hasn’t attempted to contact me in any way.
We had been together for 8 months before the break up. Since in January I will be in the same city as he is, is there anything I could do?
I love him very much, and want out future to be together, but if he no longer feels the same way, it feels odd to try pushing it.
I should also probably add that initially he was the one who brought all the seriousness to our relationship, including the discussion of moving now and in a year, saying how he knows that I am all he wants in his partner for life, and all I have to do is keep being myself.
Thank you very much in advance!
EBR Team Member: Shaunna
December 22, 2019 at 5:39 pm
Hi Tina, as you are moving to his city next month I suggest that you focus on that and how to be the ungettable girl, when you have been living in the same city for a few weeks you can reach out to him as a friend having a brief short positive conversation, asking for advice on where you could go for food with a friend, run some errands, find an item you need. I would use social media that you know he has access to, to show that you are living in his area and then he will wonder why you have not reached out to him.
Marian
December 10, 2019 at 3:50 pm
Hey! I met my ex online, we have known each other for over a year and were just casual friends (never imagined him as more than a friend). I started getting really busy so I got away from everything and focused on my studies, then a few months later I came back to that group we had and he messaged me out of the blue, from there we became really close, we were talking every day for a month and a half and became an LDR couple.
He asked me to come to meet him and offered to pay for my flight. a few weeks after we met in real life, we were a real couple for a week we did everything together and he said he loved me and took me to many fancy places, paid for me and everything. We had a really small argument once but I didn’t pay too much attention cuz we talked about it, when I came back to my country, he said he was crying and I could see me leaving was really hard for him, but then, a few days later he became really distant, when we talked about it he said he can’t have those fights in the future (because his ex was constantly fighting with him) and said he needed some time to think, I gave him that time with no begging and got into no contact period, after that I messaged him with the “While I was doing that it reminded me of you” he replied with a message “Woah that’s so cool!” and I replied kept talking about that topic, but he hasn’t kept the conversation going. He does reply when I message him but he doesn’t initiate..do you think he still mad at me? what should I do? I’ll appreciate any help.
EBR Team Member: Shaunna
December 14, 2019 at 11:58 pm
Hey Marian, it does not seem that he is mad anymore and it sounds like he is open to speaking to you but not initiating means that you’re not getting his curiosity enough make sure you are the one who is ending conversations even if the conversation is cut short.
Mary
November 5, 2019 at 2:23 am
Hi, my ex and I broke up 3 days ago. We dated for 2 years total and a year and 9 months before we started doing long distance. We always talked about our future, kids, marriage, etc. Before I left (moved to a different country and he is in the USA) he would always say how we wanted to marry me some day and would sometimes call me his wife and say how he liked the sound of it. Many times he joked about engagement rings. Then I moved home and tried long distance for 3 months. At the beginning of our LDR he said we would be getting married soon and that LDR wouldnt be so bad because of that reason. Him and I have always been inseparable we did everything together and not get bored we became best friends, so our LDR was rough. Those 3 months were hell, we would be so sad because we missed each other so much. Around the 2nd month of doing long distance we talked about breaking up because he said he no longer felt ready to marry me(which is the only way I could go back to the US and be with him) he said he felt pressured even tho I said I was willing to wait for him because he said LD was making him doubt what he felt for me. We didnt break up and I ended up visiting him. He said his old feelings were back and he was so happy to be with me and didnt want me to leave. However, he said again he wasnt ready for marriage but that we could keep doing long distance bc we figured if we saw each other every 2-3 months it would be bearable. However, after my visit our LDR became tougher. We were fighting more and all because of how sad we were we couldn’t be together. He said even tho I wasn’t pressuring him to marry me he still felt pressured and didnt know if he would ever be ready for marriage even though he said he wanted to marry me. He broke up with me and said he loves me and wants to be with me but marriage is not the right way to go bc he isn’t ready and later said he wasnt sure of what he felt. He said he wanted space and time to find himself and figure out what he wanted. He is also going to grad school soon and said he wouldnt have much time for me and we’re both young we are 23 years old. He said maybe not talking would make him realize i’m all he wants and would want to get back together. We haven’t talked since and we ended on good terms we agreed to always being there for each other and loving each other always. I just know we are meant to be so I want to get him back. I just don’t know what to do when he knows how happy he is with me but says he doesn’t want to keep doing long distance because its too hard and too much effort. What advice can you give me? Is there a chance of us getting back together? Should I keep the no contact rule?
EBR Team Member: Shaunna
November 9, 2019 at 7:33 pm
Hi Mary, so yes keep to the No Contact rule, read about it and the work you need to put into it and make sure you do it. And then also read about long distance relationships and how they work when you are trying to get back with your ex. All this information can be found on the website so you dont have to look too far. Give the quiz a go for an idea of your chances, and then start working on becoming Ungettable Girl
Sofia
October 27, 2019 at 1:05 pm
Hello Chris,
Me and my bf dated for 3 years, we broke up a couple of times after huge fights but got back immediately after. After 2 years I moved to SF to go to school, the first semester was fine because I would fly home every month and we even met in Maui for his birthday (amazing weekend). Second semester started to get tough since I started a job and an internship so, we would see each other a little bit less. I made a surprise visit for his graduation and everything was fine, then we drove back together and he visited me right before I started my semester abroad in Europe. The first month in Europe was fine he was supposed to visit in November, then all of a sudden a month ago he asked for some time off, out of the blue. Honestly it was hard for me due to homesickness and other things. I was sad the entire month and I would tell him how I felt. A few days ago we talked over the phone, and that was it. I said he could no longer do this, that stuff at work is tough and wanted to be alone for awhile. We both got mad and said some stuff. Last night we had to talk because of a ticket I had to buy so, I had to talk to him. We talked and I got a bit emotional hearing his voice, and even though I was feeling a little better I told him that what he said the other day hurt me a lot, and that I deserved an explanation. He said he didn’t want to talk about it again. But, eventually he did. He restated that even though we’re meeting in a couple of months when I go home, we won’t get back together, that this is definite because he doesn’t see. a future with me. And said that all the reasons were still there but, now he said that he felt lonely and unsupported which doesn’t make sense because I was always there helping him out, I was just not physically there, and that he found comfort and support through this colleague of his. And I told him that it was extremely unfair because I did everything in my power to be there for him. He said that nothing has happened, and that he doesn’t know if anything is going to happen because they work together but that he might like for something to happen. I got so angry and felt so hurt and told him that he should at least wait until we see each other before trying something with this girl (which is the complete opposite of me). Now, I’m really trying to get out there, and enjoy my studies here. But, I think this is the worst timing ever. I don’t know if he’s just saying these things to keep me away; I just want to know why he’s doing this.
Alicia
October 10, 2019 at 5:01 pm
My ex and I were together for 7 years living an hour and a half away from each other. I initiated a break up with him and tried to fix it but now he claims that he doesn’t want to move for me even though he always said he was going to. I just don’t know what to do because I feel like we were great for each other and the relationship has ended over something that was constantly discussed and always seemed like we were in agreement that he was moving to where I live. He reached out when he was drunk one night saying I love you and when I questioned him about it he commented that the truth comes out when you’re drunk. I asked him not to do it again. He then asked if I would be fine talking to him If he were to reach out when he’s sober and I said it’s fine but there’s no purpose if nothing is going to change. I’m just so confused and don’t know what his intentions are. This is ultimately his decision.