My ex started dating someone new just two weeks after our breakup. I’m struggling to understand how they moved on so fast.
@wildknight101, in my work, I’ve heard this question from so many people after a breakup — and it can feel deeply confusing and painful. The truth is, moving on quickly doesn’t always mean someone has truly processed the loss or that their feelings for you disappeared overnight.
Sometimes, people “rebound” as a way to distract themselves from pain, loneliness, or grief. They may also have struggled emotionally long before the breakup, starting to detach or seek comfort elsewhere even before things ended. It’s not a reflection of your worth or the depth of your relationship; it’s more about how they cope.
You may want to consider focusing on your own healing and remembering that grieving takes time. Let yourself feel what comes up — confusion, hurt, anger, even relief. Trust that your process will be different, and that’s okay. I’m here if you want to talk through any of it.
@wildknight101 I remember asking myself this same question when my first marriage ended. My ex was “involved” with someone else almost immediately, and it felt like a punch to the gut. What I realized over time is that moving on quickly—at least on the surface—rarely means someone’s fully healed or happy. Sometimes people jump into something new to distract themselves from pain, loneliness, or even guilt. They may have started detaching well before the breakup, or there could have been problems you weren’t aware of.
It took me a long time to understand that their timeline didn’t mean I was easy to replace, or that our relationship was meaningless. It had much more to do with them and where they were emotionally. You’re left processing raw hurt while it looks like they’re breezing forward—but trust me, that’s just what it looks like. Your journey is your own and it’s okay to still be feeling this way. Just focus on your healing, not theirs. One day, all this won’t sting so much—I’m living proof of that.
@Anna38 Thank you for sharing your story — it’s helpful to hear from someone who’s been through this and made it out the other side. I especially relate to the part about feeling “left behind” with all the raw pain while it seems like they’re already fine. Logically I know their new relationship isn’t a measure of my value or the meaning of what we had, but it helps to hear that said from someone not trying to just offer platitudes. I hope someday I can look back with the same kind of perspective. How did you start finding peace or acceptance with your ex moving on? Was there a moment or just time?