this post was submitted on 05 Mar 2026
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I called it quits with my boyfriend today on a video call. It had been brewing for a while, and the breakup was very amicable. Instead of feeling angry or sad, I actually feel fresh and excited. I think it’s because we got into the relationship very quickly, and I never really got the chance to explore or “play the field.”

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[–] YeahIgotskills2@lemmy.world 3 points 3 hours ago

I initiated it, but she readily agreed. I think we both knew after 5 years together that it wasn't working. I remember hugging and driving away and then suddenly feeling really upset. It was the uncertainty I didn't like. I'd grown used to having a partner for events, movies etc.

I'm married now with a family and, surprisingly, never really think of any of my exes. But at the time, yeah, I found it quite unsettling.

[–] qarbone@lemmy.world 1 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago)

She prompted it and I accepted because what are you going to do? Stay in a one-sided relationship?

Honestly, it was the right call even if I immediately went into emotional triage to figure out when I had fucked up.

It was very dumb and looking back I really can't understand why I felt so strongly, but when I was in high school it really felt like the end of the world/my life was ending. I cried so hard I couldn't breathe and blasted songs like this at full volume.

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 1 points 3 hours ago

My first? Deeply hurt, confused, betrayed, bewildered, etc. It kicked off a delightful bout of depression that lasted almost a year and only ended because I had bigger things to worry about.

[–] Grail@multiverse.soulism.net 3 points 5 hours ago

The same way as you. I was really proud I did it so well.

[–] Starb3an@lemmy.world 2 points 4 hours ago

I had no idea it was coming and was destroyed. Pretty sure it was my tism that made me any hints, but still. There was a lot of ugly crying. I honestly don't remember much else, but I also don't remember a lot of my life. I was around 16 or 17 so that was 20 years ago.

[–] wampus@lemmy.ca 5 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago)

Confused and conflicted. My first long term relationship was with a woman where we realistically had little chance of a future -- she had become unemployed during our time together, and she didnt see any reason to get another job for the two years it dragged on for after that. Then she started saying I, as the guy, should pay for a house for us to move into together, even though it's unrealistic for a regular guy to buy a house in his early adulthood, especially on a single salary.

Shortly after that, she had what I can only describe as some sort of mental break down. She started claiming she was an angel from another planet, and that her time playing mmos was preparing her for the true reality that every person is just an avatar and shit. She started self-harming/cutting. I couldn't support her in this, and I couldn't really see a clean way to get her help other than informing her immediate family (who all sorta noped out of helping). She still continued to imply I should be buying us a house together etc, which I absolutely couldn't do, nor would I want to cohabitate with a nutter. So we split.

Saw her months after the breakup for coffee/catchup, said she was training to be an exorcist through some shady guy who was paying her $5 a day to take care of his severely disabled parents. She implied exorcisms were done through certain sexual acts sometimes. So she seemed like she was clearly getting seriously taken advantage of due to her broken mental state.

Felt bad for her, glad that I'd 'dodged a bullet'. Though really the scars from that whole thing likely contributed to the reason I'm an old single person who's noped out of dating ;p

[–] gigastasio@sh.itjust.works 51 points 15 hours ago (2 children)

On today’s episode of What Could Possibly Go Wrong, a young, hypersexual girl announces to the internet that she is recently single. Let’s take it over to Kevin who’s live on the scene, and see how events unfold…

[–] Grail@multiverse.soulism.net 3 points 5 hours ago

Isn't she a teenager?

[–] shittydwarf@sh.itjust.works 32 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

We're here at OP's inbox Ken and it is an absolute disaster, dicks galore

[–] Ediacarium@feddit.org 13 points 10 hours ago

Obligatory:

[–] chicken@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 10 hours ago

Intense emotional pain I couldn't get away from, which lasted a very long time. The sense that I can't trust anyone. Mild psychosis where I would temporarily convince myself we would get back together, despite trying hard to accept it and not think this way, just getting my thoughts overpowered by emotion. The feeling that who I am as a person does not exist anymore. Briefly feeling less pain by finding reasons to be angry, but not being able to maintain that anger. Eventually the pain subsided years later when I forgot what it felt like to be around her. Still have nightmares sometimes though.

[–] LonelySea@reddthat.com 7 points 12 hours ago

First guy ended up gay. Not that I have an issue with that, it was the lies and using me as a cover for his very religious family that stung.

Second cheated. Also stung

Third was actually a decent guy, I ended things with him because we just weren't compatible. That also kinda hurt because I didn't want to hurt him!

[–] surewhynotlem@lemmy.world 4 points 11 hours ago

Miserable. But as the old saying goes: nothing gets you over the last one like getting under the next one.

Love lost hurts, but love isn't rare. You'll find it.

[–] chunes@lemmy.world 15 points 15 hours ago (3 children)

anyone else never had one? married my first gf and it's been a couple decades now lol

[–] Suck_on_my_Presence@lemmy.world 10 points 15 hours ago

I married my first bf and after 12 years, we split.

Ouch. Oof. Ouchie

[–] shittydwarf@sh.itjust.works 6 points 15 hours ago

You're lucky I had to try out about a hundred before I found one that can handle me.

[–] MrMeowMeow@mander.xyz 19 points 17 hours ago (1 children)
[–] Chippys_mittens@lemmy.world 12 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago)

I hope not, pretty sure she's wicked young like just turned 18. Which I guess is fine but I just don't imagine if her inbox is flooded its with similarly aged non creepy dudes.

[–] thethrilloftime69@feddit.online 12 points 16 hours ago

I'm 37m now. I was with my first gf from age 18 to 24. I was a wreck for years. I didn't go on a date for at least a year. I didn't have sex for 2 years. I didn't get into another relationship for 5 years.

We had kinda been circling the drain for a while, so it shouldn't have been a surprise at the time, but I didn't know any world without her and I was scared to end it.

Looking back, it was one of the best things that ever happened to me, but in the moment it was awful. I was a depressed wreck for years.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 6 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago) (1 children)

Confused.

I didn't even know we were dating. I took a friend to see LOTR because she was just as into fantasy as me. A few days later, she "broke up" with me saying she wasn't ready for a relationship. I was like "What? but we're not dating?"

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 1 points 3 hours ago

Oof. I had one of those but apparently we were dating for three months, a bunch of people knew except me and no one bothered to tell me. Some people can take a friendly hug the wrong way.

[–] zxqwas@lemmy.world 3 points 12 hours ago

First one was reasonably calm. We figured out that it would not work in the long run, cried a bit, and stayed friends for a few years.

Second breakup threw me completely off. I was sad for years, one could use the word depressed but I'll refrain from doing so unless someone professional issues the diagnose.

[–] northernlights@lemmy.today 8 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Really awful. We had been together for about 2 years and she just... disappeared. Lack of closure and not knowing if she was even safe was tough. Years later she contacted me and told me what happened.

[–] Heliumfart@sh.itjust.works 5 points 14 hours ago (1 children)
[–] northernlights@lemmy.today 11 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Cheated on me, got pregnant she didn't know by whom, disappeared in shame, had abortion.

[–] YeahIgotskills2@lemmy.world 2 points 3 hours ago

Yeah... Sounds like a bullet dodged mate

[–] Mim@lemmy.zip 4 points 14 hours ago

Despite being in my mid 30s I never had one. But I was rejected by someone I fell head over heels for. That was… bad enough, really.

[–] Wildmimic@anarchist.nexus 3 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago)

All my relationships ended while the next started - i am an honest guy and if i develop feelings for another person while in a relationship i do inform my partner before doing anything else.

The first one i practically fled - She was quite abusive and i moved out as fast as i could.

The second relationship was dead and it was obvious for both of us - high emotions were only in the moment i told her that i'm out, i was hit by a open red bull can, but afterwards it was calm.

The last one i was left by her - the relationship was dead too, but i still feel for her, and if had any chance of winning her back i would take it. alas, there is none.

[–] abbadon420@sh.itjust.works 2 points 12 hours ago

I'm also curious about this. I never had a breakup. Been married for 12 years.

[–] Zetta@mander.xyz 3 points 14 hours ago

I was devistated when my first girlfriend left me, I briefly considered suicide and was depressed for half a year. But ended up being a good thing, my second partner I've been with for much longer now and love to death.

[–] MagicShel@lemmy.zip 6 points 17 hours ago

Absolutely devastated. I got on my bike and pedaled away as fast as my little legs could go. I dried my eyes and went to my grandma's house and had some cookies.

[–] Libb@piefed.social 4 points 16 hours ago

Devastated.

[–] neidu3@sh.itjust.works 5 points 16 hours ago

Relieved, tbh. It wasn't working, and it hadn't for a long time. We somehow drifted from being a couple to friends with benefits. And over time, I am reluctant to claim there was much if a friendship involved either.

We did have a lot of mutual friends, though, so we didn't cut contact. And about a year and a half later I was back in the area, and a bunch of us were out drinking. She was making out with some dude she met that night, possibly/probably in an effort to make me jealous. One of my friends asked me if I had any opinion on the matter, and I don't think I've been so honest ever again: "Never before have I felt so indifferent".

[–] toomanypancakes@piefed.world 2 points 14 hours ago

I wasn't too upset, I'm the one who wanted it and this was in middle school. We just went our separate ways as best as I can remember, no one was particularly hurt. In my limited experience breakups go a lot smoother when you're both ready to call it quits, it's just a problem when it's only one of you that's done.

[–] Chippys_mittens@lemmy.world 4 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago)

You're really young and it was a long distance thing, right? Breakups around then are really manageable. The way you describe feeling sounds reasonable. I've felt similar following breakups, even big ones. My first serious girlfriend that I broke up with was actually exciting. She and I weren't really meshing and her friend (the one who got us together) had a thing for me. Ended up dating the friend within the same week (ah to be 15 again). That one ended way worse with cheating and all kinds of bullshit. It doesn't real get brutal until you're living with someone for years and then breakup.

[–] IWW4@lemmy.zip 2 points 14 hours ago

I had high school “relationships” that were kids stuff. The first real relationship I had was in college. We dated over two years and when it ended I was.. RELIEVED.

I was just sick of her bullshit and she was pretty much just as sick of my bullshit.

The relationships ended when our lease ended and I was so happy to put her in my rear view.

[–] emotional_soup_88@programming.dev 4 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago)

(Male 37)

When I finally broke up with my first love in ninth grade after having endured her cheating on me with my best friend for two years - which I was aware of but didn't know how to deal with - I felt worthless, stupid, ugly, like a failure and I wanted to kill myself. Did some real damage to my hands to numb the pain. Even now, 25 years later, the whole ordeal still hurts mentally and physically. I know she was an incredibly horrible human being and I shouldn't punish myself for it, but that's easier said than done.

I've also broken up and got divorced about five years ago. We were together for eight years and married for four. This time, it was kind of amicable - we just had to go our separate ways even though we loved each other still - but it still felt horrible. I felt like puking for days after. It also shoved me into moderately severe depression and now I'm on meds for it.

I wish I didn't have feelings.

[–] agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works 3 points 16 hours ago

I only had one real relationship before my wife, and I was the one broken up with.

I was devastated, and just generally sad for probably a month or so. After a while, I started to realize that my life with her would have been pretty bad. She was shallow, judgemental, not particularly bright, kinda bad in bed. I would've stayed with her out of loyalty though.

It gave me the push to improve myself and get out there more, and I became much happier than I was when we were together. I've been with my wife for 13 years now, and she's amazing.

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 3 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

I mean first? Generally pretty sad but most did not even go very long or very far. I was pretty nerdy but I did some dating in high school so. Even after that. I mean I broke up with some and it was still sad. You want(ed) it to work. I can't see a scenario where I would decide to be in a relationship and not be sad when it ended. That said you can also be excited to be out and about looking although I find I need time before that happens.

[–] violet08@lemmy.today 5 points 16 hours ago (2 children)

I don’t know if it’s wrong to feel this way, but the thought that I’m in a free Western country (Switzerland) right now, and can go on public dates, have a public relationship, show PDA, and be open about it, makes me feel excited, lol.

[–] DScratch@sh.itjust.works 4 points 16 hours ago

Your feelings are valid!

It sounds like there was no betrayal or hostility involved, just two people who grew apart.

Because you’re a good citizen you didn’t start looking around before telling your partner things were over.

And it’s springtime, so certain… feelings are more prominent.

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 3 points 16 hours ago

I mean no one should feel its wrong to feel some way. I mean as long as your feelings are not leading to hurting people or something. We are all different and you know we very different with out things. I had very few relationships before marriage so there is a bit more intentionality and significance to them. I had friends who started dating in high school and heck maybe junior high and grade school and almost was always in one. These are like the hey do you want to be my girlfriend/boyfriend, ok. type thing. So I really think its going to depend on the individual. Im one of those people who think its good to feel sad sometimes and thats ok but its also good to feel good or excited. I do think I would feel sadder knowing someone I had been in a realtionship was not sad though. Then I would be wondering if I was bad.

[–] Lumisal@lemmy.world -1 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago)

Was it the male best friend that caused the breakup?

Lemmy is so thirsty they don't even stop to think about lemmy.today being a troll instance.

[–] you_are_dust@lemmy.world 2 points 16 hours ago

I actually felt similar after the end of my last relationship. It was causing me a fair amount of stress and when I ended it, I felt relief. My first break up was way too long ago to really recall my exact feelings. But normally it's anger or sadness instead of relief. For me, the relief or feeling refreshed typically happens on reflection instead of immediately after.

[–] Nemo@slrpnk.net 1 points 16 hours ago

fine

wasn't much of a breakup but then it wasn't much of a relationship