You may be checking your ex's social media for clues to explain what happened and whether they are seeing someone else. Ultimately, social media is a highlight reel of what someone wants to present to the world.
Although you may think that checking up on your ex on social media is stalking, it is actually a completely normal behavior following a breakup. You may want to see who your ex is with and what the person is doing in the hopes that your ex feels as miserable as you.
You want to see what they're up to. You miss having someone to check in with. You want to know what's going on in their life. You want to know if they've moved on and if so, what their new significant other looks like (you may also start following that person on social media, which is not a good idea).
1. It's natural to want to see what an ex is up to... In other words, you are not a crazy stalker. "From an evolutionary perspective, it is honestly pretty normal behavior to cyber-stalk an ex, especially if you are looking for information about his or her new potential partner," says Somich.
"To think about an ex isn't an act of cheating," agrees Ingham. "We may stop seeing people but we still think about them. It may be a sign that you are not over your former relationship but it may be harmless and a natural part of letting go of your old relationship while you start your new one."
It's not uncommon to stalk your ex on social media, but that doesn't mean it's the best thing for you. "In most cases it means you are having a really hard time letting go and accepting that the relationship is over," Leckie says. "In other cases, it could just mean that you are curious as to what they are up to."
Obsessively passionate individuals, as opposed to those with harmonious passions, are more likely to stalk their former romantic partners. New research suggests that one reason obsessively passionate partners stalk their ex is their intense fear of abandonment.
The study also revealed that men will have six relationships - two of which will last more than a year, while women will have five. Men and women both face get cheated on once in their quest to find 'The One' - but the average adult will also be the cheater on at least one occasion in their dating lifetime.
You connect with your ex on Facebook
Looking up your ex on Facebook is not cheating. There is another word for this: 'curiosity'.
If your ex is lurking on your social media, they may be trying to make you jealous. Perhaps they've been posting about their love life or keep bragging online about how great their life is. This behavior might make you question why you broke up with them. Why were they able to move on so much faster than you?
You're not ready to let go and social media helps you feel connected to your ex. Breakups often bring up grief that can feel confusing. This person who was such an important part of your life, memories, and stories is now someone you no longer have contact with.
According to Friends Reunited, the top reasons people hang on to photos of their exes are: They remind you of a special event. They bring back good memories. It was a part of life and growing up you don't want to forget.
Terms such as “soft cheating”, “cyber infidelity”, and “micro-cheating” refer to less obvious means of cheating that are not traditionally thought of as infidelity but are ultimately dishonest and secretive.
Micro cheating refers to acts of seemingly trivial, inappropriate behaviors that occur outside of one's devoted relationship, often done unintentionally.
December might be a time for joy and goodwill – but it's also the most popular time for couples to break up.
Men view their ex-partners more fondly than women view theirs, study finds. Researchers didn't expect there would be gender differences, but it turns out men and women have different views on exes. The end of a romantic relationship can leave people in a haze of bitterness, resentment and anger.
It varies a lot. There's a lot of research on lifetime sexual partners, and any given study will give you slightly different numbers. But in general, anywhere between 4 and 8 partners is considered an average number of sexual partners for adult men and women.
Obsessively passionate individuals, as opposed to those with harmonious passions, are more likely to stalk their former romantic partners. New research suggests that one reason obsessively passionate partners stalk their ex is their intense fear of abandonment.
If you're wondering if an ex still thinks about you, the answer is probably yes. This is simply because we create deep bonds with the people we have relationships with, and our memories of our former partners don't just disappear after a breakup.
You may be having these feelings due to something else, such as nostalgia. You may love the person you used to be, or love them for who they were. Other times, you have a personality that makes you obsessed. If you do want your ex back, and the feeling is mutual, then perhaps it's time to get back together.
It is also unhealthy for you because it allows you to constantly compare yourself to others. Perhaps you are looking at photos of their new partner, or comparing how well they seem to be coping with your own reality. Either way, this is a time and thought consuming habit which negatively impacts your self esteem.
Save yourself from comparing who is “more over” the other
It's not helpful to gauge who is “more over” the other. Everyone heals at their own pace. Seeing your ex on social media may actually hijack your healing process. Take your time & let yourself progress in your own timeline.
Emotional cheating is the most common type of affair with Couples Therapy revealing 45% of men and 35% of women admitted to being involved in emotional cheating.