Meeting new people after a breakup can be difficult, especially if your last relationship lasted several years. When you meet a new guy, you’re hesitant. You don’t want him to be a rebound, but at the same time, you want to see what's out there. The question is: how long should you wait before you start dating again?
Paulette Kouffman Sherman, Psy.D., psychologist and author of Dating From the Inside Out says that there’s no definite number to it, although she suggests to hold back for at least a month before saying ‘yes’ to any dinner offers.
“Most people need a month or two to process the breakup, to mourn, and to integrate lessons before jumping back in if they were in a fairly serious relationship,” she says. You need to consider factors such as the length and quality of your previous relationship. If it was a long term-relationship, say a year or more, it should take you three to four months before you enter the dating pool again.
Also, you need to think about your emotions and psychological state of mind. Have you completely moved on from your past? Is your heart fully healed from all the hurt and pain a former love has caused you?
Dating a new guy while you’re still heartbroken can only make you feel worse, so if you’re not ready to ‘mingle’ then don’t force yourself to do so. Remember, love isn’t something to be rushed so take time to heal and when you’re good to go, you're going be an even bigger catch than you are now.
