re: Separation Anxiety and Depression question.

It doesn’t start to go away until after you start dating someone else.

Even then, it can still come and go when you’re lonely. You’re always going to remember the good times, and it will make you sad. What you have to do is focus on all the bullshite that you’re losing too, all the things she didn’t like you doing or gave you grief about, the freedoms you are gaining. You have to learn to appreciate the situation you’re in, embrace it, and decide to make it a change for the better.

It will get better, but it takes time, effort, and learning to love yourself and others again.

For me, my wife and I separated about 8-9 months ago, but things had been really bad for about 9 months prior to that, so emotionally, we’d been broken up for a while. It was really rough on me. I was depressed, hopeless, broke, suicidal, and had to move back in with my parents. However, I forced myself to put on a happy face and put myself out there. I went on a few dates and eventually got a girlfriend that I dated for a few months. Just learning how much easier relationships could be as opposed to what it was like being with her completely changed my outlook. I still feel sad and lonely sometimes, but I am in a far better place now. Looking back, what made me most sad was my dog choosing to stay with her over me.