Whether you’ve split from a guy and miss him or you’re in a new relationship with a guy, you’re right to wonder if he misses his ex.
Do guys always miss their ex-girlfriends?
When do guys start missing their ex?
This is a tough question to answer as every guy and situation is different, but here’s what we know:
When Do Guys Start Missing Their Ex?
There’s no one answer to this question as everyone is different.
Some guys may start missing their ex-girlfriend as soon as she leaves if he didn’t want the relationship to end.
While other guys can take weeks, months, or even longer to miss their ex – if at all.
While it’s common for guys to take some time to miss their ex after a breakup, it’s not always the case.
It really depends on the situation and how the breakup happened.
For example, if a guy was blindsided by the breakup and didn’t see it coming, he may be more likely to miss his ex right away.
On the other hand, if a guy was the one who ended things with his ex after a long period of hating the relationship, he may not miss her as much.
Related – Here are 10 reasons why guys stay in touch with their ex-girlfriends.
Signs a Guy Is Missing His Ex
The more important question is whether or not you can see signs that he’s missing his ex.
There are a few key signs to look out for that may indicate he’s not over his ex:
- He talks about her all the time
- He’s still friends with her on social media, they text, and communicate a lot
- He gets jealous when she is seen with or talks about other guys
- He prioritizes her over you if she asks him for anything
- He feels distant in his relationship with you
If you see any of these signs, it’s possible that he’s not over his ex.
You might be able to pinpoint a more accurate timeline than he can of when he started missing her, and how much he’s missing her.
Can Guys Forget Their Ex?
This is another question that is very situation dependent and is almost impossible to answer without knowing the guy.
Some guys may never forget their ex and always hold a torch for her, while others may be able to move on relatively quickly and forget about them.
There’s no set timeline for forgetting an ex, and it really varies from person to person.
If you’re wondering whether or not a guy has forgotten his ex, the best thing to do is ask him directly.
Although that’s going to bring his ex to the forefront of his mind!
If he’s honest with you, he’ll be able to tell you how he feels and whether or not he’s still thinking about her.
It’s not as if a guy will completely forget about an ex, they’ll always be in their mind as they shared some good times together.
It’s a case of whether or not they’re thinking about their ex, and more so if they’re missing them or still have feelings for them.
Do Breakups Hit Men Later than It Does for Women?
It’s a common belief that men don’t feel the effects of a breakup as much as women do.
This isn’t always true, and in fact, a study from researchers at Binghamton University and University College London revealed that breakups actually hit men harder than women on average.
However, the study found that men and women cope with breakups in different ways.
Women tend to “lean-in” to their emotions and talk about their feelings with friends, family, and therapists more than men do.
On the other hand, men tend to “lean-out” and cope with breakups by drinking, doing other destructive behaviors, and trying to forget about their ex.
So while men may seem like they’re handling the breakup better on the surface, they’re actually more likely to be struggling internally.
Related – Does your ex really love his new girlfriend? Here’s how to tell!
How Long Does It Take for A Man to Realize He Messed Up?
This is another question that is difficult to answer as it varies from guy to guy.
Some guys may realize they messed up right away and try to win their ex back, while others may take months or even years to realize what they had.
It all depends on the relationship, the breakup, and the person.
If you’re wondering how long it will take for your ex to realize he messed up, the best thing to do is give him some space.
He’ll need time to figure out his own feelings and come to terms with what happened.
If you try to push him or hurry him along, it will only make things worse.
If you’re with someone and you’re concerned about them realizing they’ve messed up with their ex and will go running back, this is a tough spot to be in.
The best advice is to not waste any time or energy stressing about something you can’t control.
Although that’s easier said than done!
On the other hand – it may comfort you to know that even if your guy doesn’t realize he’s made a mistake right away, eventually he will.
And when he does, he’ll reach out to you.
Image credits – Photo by rayul on Unsplash
Phil lives in England, UK, and has around 20 years experience as a professional life, career and executive coach. He started this blog to help others find and define their own self development journey. Blogging about a wide range of topics to help facilitate a better future.