Here are seven things to do if your ex wants to stay friends and you don’t, according to experts.

  1. Tell Them Up Front. Andrew Zaeh for Bustle.
  2. Honor The Relationship With Empathy. Andrew Zaeh for Bustle.
  3. Set Up A Timeline.
  4. Stick With Your Boundaries.
  5. Find New Places To Hang Out.
  6. Put It In Writing.
  7. Don’t Fall For The Tricks.

Can lovers be friends after breakup?

It is possible to be friends right after a breakup — but it’s rare. “There are a lot of ex-couples who became friends right away even if the reason behind the breakup was a painful one. This is because they are capable of understanding each other, and they know exactly what went wrong in the relationship.”

What does it really mean when your ex wants to be friends?

Your ex wants to be friends but you don’t want to be in contact anymore. For some people when a relationship ends it means that it’s over and that you’re not supposed to keep seeing each other and be in touch for months or years to come.

Can you really be friends with your ex?

If you truly want to be friends with your ex, it should be because you like him as a friend. It needs to be because you are willing to work at what might be a very hard friendship to solidify. What attracted you to him or her in the first place, is probably still there.

Should you remain friends with an ex?

If you stay friends immediately after and continue spending time with your ex, you won’t be able to fully process the loss. So, for starters, you need to embark on an ex detox. Unfollow them on all social channels ASAP. Trolling through your ex’s Facebook feed will only spark feelings of anxiety and jealousy.

Is it okay for my boyfriend to be friends with his ex?

If your boyfriend and his ex are friends after the breakup, you need not worry if it’s been long since they were together. A romance takes time to change into friendship and just be sure your boyfriend and his ex have had that time to themselves. The romance and the resentment need to be healed and becoming friends is a good way to deal with it.