Post-breakup, individuals often ponder their ex’s thoughts, actions, and lingering feelings, seeking signs of enduring affection through behavior rather than words, as expressions of sentiment vary widely.
The likelihood of an ex’s return hinges on the nature of the past relationship and their perception of the breakup.
Your ex just wants you around vs Still having feelings for you
Before interpreting your ex’s desire to stay close as genuine affection, recognize that their behavior might stem from loneliness, ego, a lack of boundaries, fear of commitment, or manipulation, rather than true love.
Genuine feelings from an ex are demonstrated through their efforts to nurture the connection and improve themselves for the sake of the relationship, making you feel secure and valued.
Here are 16 signs your ex has still feelings for you:
1. Your ex reaches out to you first
If your ex initiates contact after a breakup by overcoming their pride, it signifies their love for you and a desire to reconcile, demonstrated by their apologies, clear explanations for reaching out, absence of breadcrumbing, and ensuring you don’t feel used.
This gesture, although potentially confusing, indicates different motives for wanting to reconnect.
2. They try to make you jealous
Your ex showing off their new partner or reacting to your new relationship is often an attempt to make you jealous, signaling they still have feelings for you and want your attention.
This behavior, though not the best way to express affection, aims to demonstrate their worth and remind you of what you’re missing.
3. Your ex tells you that they hate you
An ex might claim to hate you but act in a way that suggests they still have feelings for you, often due to pride or ego preventing them from admitting it.
Watch their behavior closely, as genuine love is shown through supportive actions rather than hateful words or threats.
If an ex’s actions align with their harsh words, such as making hate posts or speaking ill of you, it’s best to maintain distance.
4. They still keep in contact with you
An ex who still loves you may frequently reach out or suggest staying friends, as they struggle to move on and hope to maintain a connection.
Despite recognizing their faults, they may display affection or keep you in limbo, based on their ability to express their emotions.
Ultimately, you decide to establish personal boundaries and determine whether to persist in this ambiguous relationship or to move on.
5. Your ex is still interested in your love/dating life
If your ex is inquiring about your dating life through friends, coworkers, or family, it could indicate they still have feelings for you.
To gauge if your ex’s love is genuine, note if they’re also emotionally reconnecting and attempting to mend past mistakes, rather than merely being curious.
If they’re actively seeking to rebuild a connection and not just snooping, it suggests they still love you.
6. They still keep your photos on social media or in their house
If someone still loves you, they won’t try to erase the past.
A person who wants to move on might remove your pictures to start fresh, while another might hold onto them as a reminder of your time together.
Wwhether your ex keeps or deletes photos of you on social media varies based on how they handle their online presence.
7. They want to make the relationship work again
An ex showing they have changed and apologizing with solutions for the relationship suggests they still have feelings for you.
They’ll demonstrate their improvements in steps if they truly want to reconcile.
If they claim to have changed without taking action, they likely want you back for selfish reasons.
8. They still care about you
Your ex might still have feelings for you, shown through friendly communication, liking your posts, and seeking to meet up.
They won’t avoid you or act strangely if you run into each other, and may even flirt a bit.
This is because you were once important to each other, despite not being a perfect match.
9. Your ex keeps reminiscing on good times
If your ex often shares or talks about happy memories from your past together, it could mean they still have feelings for you.
This is because they cherish the joy those moments brought them.
Psychologist Krystine Batcho explains that such nostalgia links to a desire for simpler, happier times.
10. They have a hard time moving on
When an ex still has feelings for you, they might show it in harmful ways, such as using alcohol, drugs, or expressing anger and accusations unfairly.
They struggle with their emotions and fail to communicate them healthily.
Distinguish between these behaviors and a truly toxic relationship.
11. They have crazy mood swings
Your ex’s mood swings after the breakup show they still have feelings for you. They’re struggling to cope with the breakup, swinging between happiness and sadness.
This instability is especially common in the early stages of the breakup.
12. Your ex says that he/she still loves you
If your ex claims to still love you but their actions don’t support their words, it might not be genuine.
They could be exploring the possibility of reuniting or simply being fond of the concept of being with you, not you.
True love from an ex is shown when their actions align with what they say.
13. They are there to support you emotionally
If your ex continues to help and encourage you after you’ve broken up, it shows they still care deeply for you.
Their support goes beyond just saying “I love you,” as it includes emotional encouragement, reassurance, and kindness.
This kind of connection often comes from ending the relationship amicably or choosing to remain friends.
14. They don’t want you to use No Contact
Your ex dislikes the No Contact rule because they still have feelings for you, and being apart makes it hard for them to manage these emotions.
Even if they talk to friends or try to reach out in other ways, their discomfort with just being friends comes from not being able to handle their feelings toward you.
Their inability to move past these feelings leads them to avoid contact entirely, as staying close without reciprocated feelings is too painful.
15. They still keep in touch with your friends/family
Your ex might stay in touch with your friends and family because they still have feelings for you and want to keep a way to communicate indirectly.
If they’re trying to find ways to be noticed by you, it could mean they still love you.
They also improve themselves and keep an eye on you from a distance, without direct contact.
Mixed signs that should be avoided:
Be cautious with tricky situations indicating your ex might still have feelings.
- If your ex texts or calls you when drunk, it doesn’t necessarily mean love. It’s often a fleeting moment of nostalgia. These feelings don’t last, aiming to make your ex feel better.
- If your ex blocks and unblocks you, they’re seeking your attention. This doesn’t imply they’re still in love, but they might miss your company for their benefit.
Much love,
Callisto
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