How many times has someone told you that you shouldn’t care about something/someone? You pour your heart out, and all they can tell you is to stop worrying about it. Does that really help? Nope. Just because you shouldn’t care doesn’t mean you don’t, especially in the following circumstances:
- When your ex moves on. Whether it’s marriage, an engagement, or simply a relationship, if it ended badly, seeing him happy can suck. It’s even worse if you’re unhappily single yourself. You’re probably better off without him, but it still sucks seeing him with someone new.
- When he doesn’t text back. There’s probably a perfectly good explanation for his delay or complete disregard in texting back, but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating. You can distract yourself all you want, but at the end of the day, when your inbox is empty the annoyance rings true.
- When you’re the latest gossip. Other people are going to talk and you shouldn’t care if they do, but bottom line, it can still hurt. They say that all publicity is good publicity, but when you’re the center of attention, it doesn’t feel that way.
- When you’re keeping it casual. Casual sex may sound appealing, but how are you going to feel if you’re not the only girl he’s keeping it casual with? If you’re completely unattached emotionally from the situation, then go for it, but if the tiniest bit of you wants more, you’re headed for heartbreak.
- When someone who hurt you is hurting. There’s nothing worse than losing someone close to you. If someone you considered a friend betrays you, it can be heartbreaking. You may feel that they don’t deserve your friendship or compassion, but sometimes you can’t help but still care.
- When you’re single. Your friends and family can scream from the rooftops about how great you are and how you’ll find the one someday, but you can still feel hopeless and alone. You don’t have to feel that way — and in hindsight, you shouldn’t — but that doesn’t change the fact that you do.
- When someone doesn’t like you. In reality, not everyone clicks. That’s life, but being openly faced with the fact that someone dislikes you can feel pretty crappy. Just remember, there’s nothing wrong with you. Some personalities clash, and that’s OK, but the fact that you care is pretty normal.
- When you’re the oddball out. If people with the same opinion surround you and you’re the only one to disagree, it can feel pretty lonely on your side of the scale. You’re entitled to your viewpoint and should be open to theirs, but having a difference in opinion can still trigger your anxiety.
