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Healing after a breakup takes time. And it doesn't matter if you were dumped or did the dumping or that everyone is telling you that you will eventually start feeling better, you can't help but think that no one could have ever experienced the things you went through. So give yourself the green light to get over it your way.

Bored Panda has compiled a list of ways people are dealing with their exes and it proves that there is no perfect recipe. From passive-aggressive gestures to constructive conversations, scroll down to check out the entries and upvote your faves.

Susan Krauss Whitbourne Ph.D., a Professor Emerita of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, said there’s very little scientific evidence on that emotional limbo in which separated couples find themselves. However, one recent study by psychologists David Sbarra and Jessica Borelli does stand out.

#2

My Uncle's Halloween Costume Is The Scariest Thing He's Ever Known, His Ex-Wife

My Uncle's Halloween Costume Is The Scariest Thing He's Ever Known, His Ex-Wife

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The researchers explored the question of which partners are able to reorganize their sense of self during the separation and which are not. The 89 adults who participated in the study (two-thirds female) were separated for about 3 months from their partners. Their marriages had lasted on average 14 years and they were about 40 years old. Roughly half had initiated the separation. Also, the participants were tested more than once. A few months after completing the initial study, they returned to allow the researchers to evaluate how they were adapting to their separations throughout the time.

The follow-up showed that attachment style and emotional self-control did, in fact, influence self-concept outcomes. "The partners whose sense of self remained in disarray were the ones who were high in attachment avoidance (i.e. who preferred to remain distant) and who also had difficulty regulating their emotions while completing the lab task measuring their distress when talking about their partner," Whitbourne explained the results. "In contrast, the avoidantly attached who could control their emotional responsiveness were able to reorganize their sense of identity more successfully over time. Attachment anxiety, somewhat surprisingly, did not play a significant role in determining the adjustment to separation."

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#4

It's Valentine's Day And My Ex-Girlfriend Sent Me This, So I Replied With This

It's Valentine's Day And My Ex-Girlfriend Sent Me This, So I Replied With This

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When you think about it, if a person is high on avoidance, why should he or she suffer any ill effects at all during a separation? Wouldn’t the person who tends to remain cold and distant do OK after the relationship ends? "This is where emotional control comes into play. If you can keep your closest relationship from penetrating your sense of self, you can survive the breakup, but only if you can also keep thoughts about your partner and the relationship out of your awareness," Whitbourne said. "Otherwise, they’ll haunt you, threaten your sense of self, and prolong your sense of distress. The only way that a highly dismissive person can survive a breakup is if that person can also “deactivate” or turn off all thoughts of the partner."

#5

Came Across A 10-Year-Old Photo That Had My Brothers Ex-Wife In It And My Ex In It. Instead Of Deleting It I "Fixed" It

Came Across A 10-Year-Old Photo That Had My Brothers Ex-Wife In It And My Ex In It. Instead Of Deleting It I "Fixed" It

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Basically, the study suggests that people high in attachment avoidance don't really make great marital partners. "They can be cold and distant, especially - as we’ve just learned - if they can also switch their emotions to the off position when things become stressful."

Once the breakup happens, however, this research shows that it’s vital to find a way to put the pieces of your identity back together. "If you can’t find a way to incorporate the breakup into your sense of who you are as a person, moving on will become even more challenging than it might otherwise be. As distressing as your thoughts may be, by allowing them to filter back into your consciousness, perhaps ever so slowly you will be able to move on and emerge with a new – and stronger- sense of self."

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#7

Best Ex Ever

Best Ex Ever

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james_fox1984 avatar
I’m Foxxy and I know it 😉
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is actually quite a nice gift from an ex unless it is poisoned or laden with spit or other bodily fluids.

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#8

My Wife Sent Me Our Son's Music Results With The Comment "I Can Think Of, Like, 7 Ex-Boyfriends Who Needed A Scoresheet Like This"

My Wife Sent Me Our Son's Music Results With The Comment "I Can Think Of, Like, 7 Ex-Boyfriends Who Needed A Scoresheet Like This"

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#9

I Kicked My Loser Ex Out Of My House And Got A New Piece Of Art

I Kicked My Loser Ex Out Of My House And Got A New Piece Of Art

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Asi Bassey
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Here in Nigeria, all our walls are made of cement blocks and mortar. Partners learnt very long ago not to kick or punch them when angry.

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#10

Ex-Fiancée And Ex Best Man Are Now Dating. He Left His Wii At My Place. I Made Sure To Get It Back To Him

Ex-Fiancée And Ex Best Man Are Now Dating. He Left His Wii At My Place. I Made Sure To Get It Back To Him

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#11

I Am Not A Graphic Designer. I Needed To Remove My Ex-Wife From A Vacation Picture In Mexico. How Did I Do?

I Am Not A Graphic Designer. I Needed To Remove My Ex-Wife From A Vacation Picture In Mexico. How Did I Do?

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#12

I Went To A Party Where My Ex Girlfriend Was Present With Her New Boyfriend. This Was What I Was Wearing

I Went To A Party Where My Ex Girlfriend Was Present With Her New Boyfriend. This Was What I Was Wearing

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#13

My Favorite Picture Of My Ex-Wife

My Favorite Picture Of My Ex-Wife

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#14

Found My Ex In The Natural History Museum

Found My Ex In The Natural History Museum

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#15

Wish You Were Here

Wish You Were Here

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#16

I Split Up With My Boyfriend Yesterday. I Fell Asleep While He Was Packing And He Stole My Toilet

I Split Up With My Boyfriend Yesterday. I Fell Asleep While He Was Packing And He Stole My Toilet

shelblikadoo Report

#17

My Friend Was Just Cheated On. This Is The Valentine's Card She's Sending Her Ex

My Friend Was Just Cheated On. This Is The Valentine's Card She's Sending Her Ex

sugarquills Report

#19

Bitter Man Buys The House Next Door To His Ex-Wife And Installs An Interesting Sculpture

Bitter Man Buys The House Next Door To His Ex-Wife And Installs An Interesting Sculpture

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#20

My Ex-Wife Just Gave Me This For My Birthday

My Ex-Wife Just Gave Me This For My Birthday

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#21

This Guy Had Pictures Of Him And His New Wife Printed On His Checks So He Could Write His Ex Alimony With Them

This Guy Had Pictures Of Him And His New Wife Printed On His Checks So He Could Write His Ex Alimony With Them

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tiari avatar
Tiari
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Checks seem like such an outdated concept to me. Why would anyone use them?

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#23

My Ex Was Bitter About Our Break Up And Started Comparing Me To Taylor Swift. This Was My Response

My Ex Was Bitter About Our Break Up And Started Comparing Me To Taylor Swift. This Was My Response

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#25

My Ex Sent Me A Postcard

My Ex Sent Me A Postcard

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elfin
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The correct response, if any, would be a postcard that says "Me too!"

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#26

While Preparing For My Garage Sale, I Found A Pendant My Ex Gave Me. I Decided To Be A Little Creative With Selling It

While Preparing For My Garage Sale, I Found A Pendant My Ex Gave Me. I Decided To Be A Little Creative With Selling It

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Laura Zappenduster
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I dont´t like that one. I woul´d have sold it for the real price. A better "revenge" in my opinion.

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#27

Paid For My Ex’s Glasses And Decided To Spend A Little Extra For An Engraving

Paid For My Ex’s Glasses And Decided To Spend A Little Extra For An Engraving

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#28

Just Returned My Ex-Girlfriend To The Store

Just Returned My Ex-Girlfriend To The Store

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Jace
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

From what I’ve seen, usually it’s the guys who call women “hoes” that are the problem...

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#29

When You Get A Divorce

When You Get A Divorce

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james_fox1984 avatar
I’m Foxxy and I know it 😉
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Getting a tattoo of your significant other or their name is silly. I am happily married and I would never do it. You never know what the future holds and tattoos are forever. This person was lucky that the tattoo was able to be covered up but it’s not always the case.

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#30

Pulling The Plug On My Ex-GF

Pulling The Plug On My Ex-GF

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Note: this post originally had 74 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.