Should You Stay Friends with Your Ex?

I have been asked this question many times, if two people can remain friends after they break up together. And I know some will, yes it is fine, it’s not a problem. But I say that essentially it is not healthy. When you break up with someone even if it’s an amicable break, both need time to get over and get closure. This is not something you can do if you stay friends. Because when you remain friends with an ex you keep a bit of hope to get back together. Maybe you are not the one to keep this hope, it may be your ex, but one of you will have hope, and this can become a problem because there cannot be a complete closure if there is even a tiny bit of hope of getting back together. 

My suggestion to all those who wish to remain friends with their ex, take the time, make a clean break, do not stay friends at first. Yes it can be hard to stay away from someone who has been your best friend for years, but this would be the healthier way of doing things. Take the time you need to process and move on. Once this is done, it can take years sometimes, then maybe you can see if a friendship is still possible. Because if you stay friends with your ex right away after a break, that little bit of hope will cause you or your ex to be better about the one who does move on. And that can create a whole new set of problems.

In the end you need to do what is best for you, for your mental state. But don’t forget even if you can handle having a clean break and remaining friends with your ex, your ex may not be and that can affect you in the way of things. 

What do you think, friends with your ex? Maybe in time?