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Can or should I ask my significant other to stop talking and to not associate with his ex? If so, how?

208 Answers
Last Updated: 06/28/2022 at 12:07pm
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Top Rated Answers
FriendlyFern
November 8th, 2018 5:10pm
Relationships have to be based on trust. Do you have a fear that he’ll cheat on you with his ex? Or leave you for his ex? If you truly trust him, you’ll be able to overcome those doubts and trust him. A lot of people can become friends with their exes after breaking up and that’s okay. As his significant other, you can’t really control who he associates with or who he talks to without becoming overly controlling and beginning to spiral towards an unhealthy relationship. If you’re really having doubts and concerns it can be helpful to have a one-on-one conversation with him so that both of your sides can be heard.
cocobeauty
November 9th, 2018 1:09am
Yes it is 100% okay to tell your significant other to stop talking to their ex. Communication is key in a relation ship so ask them to talk. Start off with your observations then tell them your feeling towards the situation. Don't get angry with them they'll come off angry too. So make sure you stay calm while talking to them about your sentiment towards this situation. I hope that will help you how to approach your significant other on this situation. If it's okay can I ask for your feedback on this. And when youre done you can come back to talk about this.
Mine23
July 3rd, 2020 5:47am
First of all, I think it is better to ask yourself "How does this situation of your significant other talking to his ex make you feel?" "What makes you feel that way?" "Are those feelings under your control that you could learn or do something about them to lessen them?" I understand that most of us wouldn't feel comfortable to know that our significant other still holds some connection with his/her ex while being with us in the present. It is important to choose the appropriate approach to talk about this. After you come up with the answers from above questions, you could maybe try to focus on communicating how this makes you feel to him. Remember that he has full right to decide what he wants to do about this, it is not our right to tell others what to do because that could lead to resentment from your significant other in the long term. I think once you communicate using "I-statement" and focus on telling how you feel without judging his behaviour, he might be more willing to understand you, situation, consequences and decide later what he can do or at least explain to you further to lessen your discomfort.
helpfulpanda2468
July 24th, 2020 6:04pm
Some people don't have a problem with their significant other talking to their ex and others do. It is entirely up to how you feel. If you personally are unhappy and upset that your significant other is talking to their ex, you should talk to them and let them know. You should call them or meet with them in person. I feel like texting does not really get the whole point across. Your significant other should stop talking to their ex out of respect for you and your feelings. I wish you the best and I hope everything goes well.
Anonymous
July 31st, 2020 2:24pm
Hopefully you and your significant other were both honest about your exes and such. As partners, we have to look out for this behavior (asking to stop talking to people/not associating with people) just because that can be one of the signs of a toxic relationship. That isn't to say you can't tell your significant other how them talking to their ex makes you feel. And you can ask them for reassurance, because it seems to be bringing out an insecurity from you (it isn't bad to note this). Even if you request this though, you cannot control if your partner stops talking to them or not. That is their choice to continue doing that, and you can choose what to do from there.
Anonymous
August 2nd, 2020 2:02am
Hi! I am sorry to hear that you having some trouble with your sig-o. I would say its not unreasonable for you to have a discussion with your sig-o. But, I would consider thinking a little deeper as to why your sig-o talking or associating with his ex makes you feel this way. You should definitely look a little inward and ask why his talking to his ex bothers you. But also I think its reasonable to open a dialogue with him and tell him why you are feeling this way. Do you think that he will be unfaithful? Is that the root of your anxiety? I would definitely urge you to talk through your problems with your sig-o. With this I would likely look inward and think why this is bothering to me so much. And I am more than willing to chat more if this proves not to be fully helpful.
Stacey101G
August 5th, 2020 6:45pm
If you suspect that there is something going on talk to them but don’t tell them not to talk or see them again. This create an impression of control in the relationship. If there is something between the partner and the ex then it’s your choice on how you proceed. But always be aware of the jealousy deep down if you do continue the relationship and take sometime before you make the decision to think things through. Don’t get angry if something is going on. If anything you should be thankful you found out when you did. I hope this helps!!
Anonymous
August 15th, 2020 3:45pm
You are perfectly justified in having a conversation with your significant other regarding his ex. Communication is very important in a relationship, so communicating your discomfort in his relationship/connection to his ex is valid. With this being said, trust is also very important in a relationship, and I would urge you to implore what exactly is causing you to doubt his loyalty or lose trust in his faithfulness. If I were to broach the conversation with a significant other, I would begin by stating how his or her actions are making me feel with explanations as to why I am feeling this way, and then discuss a multitude of compromises/methods to ameliorate the situation. This would typically be better-received than simply asking for your significant other to stop talking to/associating with an ex right off the bat.
Anonymous
August 16th, 2020 7:34am
Say that it makes you feel uncomfortable and as if they are still thinking about their ex (which they shouldn't be if they are with you already). Nobody should have to deal with that. They either need to stop thinking about their ex and associate their ex for you, or they need to get of your life. Simple. You deserve better. Remember that, okay? Please connect to more listeners for some tips and advice. I'm sure if you would like them to help you, they would be kind enough too. Or you can search it up on the web.
Tyedyedbutterfly65
August 19th, 2020 11:43am
To have a relationship it needs to have trust , communication and respect , loving one another means not bringing baggage from the past into the relationship. You can ask that they please understand your feelings and how this affects you and that you love them but it hurts when they are doing this . If they feel that they are in the right and it is still okay then you would need to decide if this person is the right one for you or stay around and continue to deal with this. This could mean nothing that they are talking to an ex , many can have communication due to children together or just being friends so it comes down to what they are talking about with the ex or if they are spending time with the ex and how much time. Remember your feelings do matter and you do need to be heard and honest with them and see how things go by opening the line of communication. Trust is Huge in a relationship and it does take both of you to make this work .
lilacbutterfly22
September 17th, 2020 7:38pm
The best thing I would recommend here is to let your significant other know how him talking to his ex makes you feel. I would use "I" statements to for this, such as something to the affect of, "When you talk to your ex (being specific in what it is that he is doing) it makes me feel ___ (being specific in what it is that you are feeling and experiencing)". This helps to take the focus off of things coming across as blaming or accusing or anything, and making it more of an open honest conversation. You've got this, my friend.
Fradiga
November 11th, 2020 12:27am
Keeping in touch with exes is more common than you think. If two people have been together for a long time (maybe even have children together), it is perfectly normal to keep a social relationship especially if they agreed to disagree for one thing and to keep each other roped in for another. The folks who are able to do this usually have a good level of self-confidence and general kindness. Of course you "can" ask for a complete breakup with an ex (or exes) from your new partner, but it might back-fire, particularly if you do not have specific reasons for asking. Your best bet should be wait-and-see.
specialMelody96
November 21st, 2020 2:58pm
Communication is always the most important thing. If you clearly lay out what your exact boundaries are and why they're important to you the conversation should go a lot smoother. I would say, be prepared to hear him out too - if he is able to explain why the friendship is important to him, perhaps you could come to some compromise. My partner is currently still on friendly terms with an ex-girlfriend, but since we've communicated about I now feel much more secure. It can depend on your personal boundaries and the trust on your relationship, but either way it's just always important to be honest.
444healer
November 26th, 2020 7:51pm
When in a relationship, communication is key. Being honest with your partner is essential for both of you to be happy. If you want your partner to stop associating with his ex, try to tell him how you feel. Does it make you uncomfortable? Do you trust him? Try to let him know without sounding like a parent. Don't tell him what to do, instead, try to figure out his point of view. For example, why does he still associate with his ex? I hope I was able to help you today, and that you and your partner will work things out.
AyeVzla
January 10th, 2021 2:08pm
A relationship is two person, (You and him) which they must manage together, for the human being is highly irritable sometimes as a couple to take conversations regarding their ex-partners, however I would consider that they talk about the subject if there is trust between the two, remember that talking to the truth sometimes allows a relationship to flow better , only you know him and you can know the most suitable way to get to him without offending or handling incoherent discussions between the two, remember that you are important to the universe you are unique so take care and worth mainly, a strong embrace from Venezuela. Sincerely, Anthony.
Anonymous
January 29th, 2021 7:06am
This is entirely up to you to decide. The main question you have to ask yourself is, is how is the ex effecting your relationship? Are they constantly talking, are they doing more than talking? Is your significant other being suspicious? Even if they're not doing anything weird, it's still understandable to be worried. Every person has a different relationship with their ex, how it effects a relationship, etc. At the end of the day if you want your significant other to stop talking with his ex, then that should be something that he is willing to do to better the relationship. I think it mostly comes down to a respect thing.
Anonymous
February 19th, 2021 10:47pm
I think you should ask your significant other to stop talking to their ex if they are in a serious relationship with you. You could start off by asking them why they do it. Then, you could move into talking about how it bothers you and how that makes you feel. If they really care about you they will understand that it makes you feel a certain type of way and then maybe the both of you can together find a solution to this issue that way it doesn't continue to affect your relationship with them or make you feel bad.
Anonymous
February 21st, 2021 12:32am
I think the best way to approach the situation would be to have a conversation in which you could both talk about each other feelings. If your relationship is recent, he might still be greaving which is totally normal. It can take some time for him to get over his past relationship. Also, you should feel free to make him aware that you are not comfortable with him talking about his ex. It is very understandable that you are not comfortable with that at all. If you get to have both of you thinking from each other's point of view, it would be wonderful. I really hope you get to communicate and sort this out. If he cares about you, he most likely will understand that you feel hurt by him talking about his past relationship. I wish you the best of luck :)
Mimiverse
March 3rd, 2021 7:02pm
I believe that you are always able to ask anything that you want because it's something that you desire. In the case of asking your significant other to disassociate with an ex, it's not wrong to want them to. If you choose to do so, however, perhaps sit them down and start by telling them that you love and trust them. Explain your feelings as to why you want them to stop and ask them along the way if they understand or have any questions or concerns. At the end, if everything is said, you can give them the open option as to whether or not they want to stop, but for your own heart and mind you wanted them to know your feelings.
Anonymous
June 19th, 2021 11:33am
If it's something that bothers you, yes, you definitely should bring it up. You can't force them to stop talking or associating with their ex but they should stop if it's something that's bothering you by themself. If even after clearing explaining that it's something that you don't like, they waffles and tries to go on an obtuse angle or try to make you feel guilty or get defensive, take some time away to think about the relationship. Do you really want to be with someone who values their ex over you? Think about it for a while. Don't phrase it like a command when you tell them, phrase it like you're explaining your feelings. "Hey, this has been really bothering me, could you please not associate so much with your ex?..." is a good way to start. You've got this.
Anonymous
June 24th, 2021 11:10am
Yes, you can, and you should first sit down with your significant other and tell them what the issue is at hand. Firstly, listing out what the problem is and why this is emotionally affecting you and possibly the relationship and finding a middle ground to the problem - this technique can be used for almost any problem at hand in a relationship. If your partner does not understand the problem, consider trying to make them understand by trying to let the person see it from your POV and angle. If your partner still does not consider your feelings and thoughts then you should consider leaving.
gentlesunset44
September 16th, 2021 11:08pm
if you feel comfortable in asking your partner, without confrontation, and feel that it won't cause problems within the relationship, then i would suggest it. A relationship is built on trust and an open communication.And if this is something that does bother you, it needs to be addressed delicately and with a bit understanding from both parties before it gets to be too much for you to handle. Being polite and speaking rationally will carry more weight to the validation to the conversation. Address your concerns and hope for the best At the vey least, you will know where you stand with your partner
happypuppy22
September 22nd, 2021 11:12pm
Thank you for reaching out! With relationships come respect for each other’s boundaries. Asking individuals to compromise is not asking for too much. From personal experience, I personally have been in your situation where I did not want my boyfriend to associate with his ex. It’s really important you explain why you feel uncomfortable exactly with your boyfriend associating with his ex? What deep down are you worried about ? Do you feel his ex was so toxic that you do not want him to get hurt again? Are you feeling like they have so much chemistry together that it worries you they may get back together? What are your thoughts on speaking with your boyfriend and explaining this through ? If there is hesitancy to ask your boyfriend their equation with their ex and what makes you uncomfortable, ask yourself why that is? Know what your boundaries are and how you address them within your relationship. Trust your intuition and if your gut feeling is telling you something is not right don’t be afraid to question. You may be experiencing mixed feelings. You may ask does me asking my boyfriend/girlfriend about me feeling uncomfortable with his equation with ex pushy and bossy which is what may hold you back from questioning significant other. Another important question to ask yourself is if you are super friendly with any of your ex’s and how your boyfriend feels about that if applicable? Any communication to address any concerns should be done in a way that is carefully thought through. Try not to react too emotionally towards what makes you uncomfortable and take your time with what you want to say. Do not assume they can read your mind just like you cannot read your significant others mind if they don’t share with you. Thank you for reaching out! Trust your intuition and do not rush into decisions without careful thought. You are welcome to communicate with any one of our listeners on our site to further explore your thoughts. There is also Relationship Support room you are welcome to visit 24/7 every Thursday to communicate with members going through relationship issues too.
Wagster79
November 4th, 2021 2:11pm
In all honestly, does it appear to be some sort of jealously that they continue to talk with their ex? However at the end of the day they are in that relationship with you and you must instill trust in them for you see yourself with them for a longer-term, all relationships are built on healthy habits. It may be beneficial to ask why they continue to still communicate with their ex, however if they say that there are no true feelings between them anymore, you shouldn't have the power to control what your partner does or who they talk to. Just express your feelings with them and see how they react!
Brittney2005
December 8th, 2021 5:33pm
If you don't want to sound controlling I wouldn't make your partner stop talking to their ex unless they have a deep history together and are too close and you're suspicious. If you do tell your partner to stop talking to their ex make sure to have them understand your feelings and that you're not being jealous. I would say "Hey, I'm uncomfortable with how much you associate with your ex." Then ask why they hang out or talk so much and if the answer is unreasonable just nicely ask your partner to stop talking or being around their ex.
Anonymous
February 16th, 2022 7:43pm
This can be a tricky one, since knowing that they're still in touch brings up some very painful feelings. Still, if your partner wants to continue speaking to his ex, that's entirely up to him. Calmly talking to your partner about how the situation is making you feel shows a level of emotional maturity and trust, enabling you to both come to a solution together. Asking them to stop talking to or associating with their ex might seem, to them, like an ultimatum more than anything else, and can create strain or conflict in your current relationship. In contrast, it can suggest a lack of trust on your part - commonly referred to as being the foundation upon which relationships should be built. Regardless of the choice your partner makes about their ex, it is their choice on the whole, and all you can control is your response to that decision.
Anonymous
March 19th, 2022 8:58am
If your partner and their ex share a healthy friendly relationship that you're sure won't backfire on you, or they don't have feelings for each other anymore, there shouldn't be a problem adjusting to that. But if their behaviour and activities make you feel insecure then you have all the rights to have a talk with your partner about it, telling them to not talk to their ex out of the blue wouldn't be appropriate as it could land barriers between you and your partner but you can always tell them it's making you insecure and you would appreciate if they reassured you that they love you and their ex and them are just friends.
SchmellyAshley
May 5th, 2022 10:26am
You two should definitely talk it out. You mustn't keep your thoughts and opinions about it to yourself, because it can bubble up in the surface and might not end well in the future. It's best to talk to your lover about this and do your best in expressing your frustration. Communication, loyalty, and trust are very important in a relationship. In most cases, if it is true and genuine love, they'd understand where you're coming from. Listen to what your lover has to say and also understand whatever they may say or talk about, since this can improve and build up your trust with each other. I may not be able to have all the answers nor can I tell the future, but trust me when I say that whatever happens, will happen. It's best for you to learn how to accept the possible outcomes in this situation because you will need that as well in the near future. I wish you all the best.