How do you deal with the temptation to contact your ex?

I personally find it helpful to text a friend or distract myself with something else. If I just sit there and tell myself not to do it, but continue thinking about it, I usually give in and regret it later.

Tell someone else what you would like to tell your ex. Then consider how what you have said could impact both you and your ex.

Just remember that you broke up for a reason. Chances are that they were not the best person for your mental health. Everything happens for a reason, and odds are that in 5 years, you will be glad that they aren't in you life anymore.

Focus on other things that make you happy in life. I always distract myself with things that keep my mind busy, while making sure that I am happy in the process.

When you feel tempted to contact your ex you must remind yourself that doing that will not help the situation, it will just make it worse. It's normal to have regrets after a relationship ends, but in many instances ending a relationship is the only healthy option.

It can be hard to walk away, and stay away. Before reaching out, ask yourself what you would want the communication to accomplish. Do you want to get back together? Want an apology? Want to blow off steam, let them know how you feel? And then look back over your relationship and the breakup, and ask yourself how likely that is to happen - can you expect to get the results you want? Or will you just be prolonging your own grief or confusion? When you contact someone who's caused you pain, whether or not that was deliberate, it can help to know what you want to happen, and what you hope will happen.

Try to distract yourself or move away from the temptation e.g. Blocking or removing from contacts until you don't feel that temptation anymore.

Think through the pros and cons. Be very honest about those to yourself. Why are you actually wanting to do it?

I try to list all the reasons why I had to leave him. In my case the relationship was abusive, though he loved me a lot he didn't like a lot of things in me and i wanted to be with someone who'd accept me for who I am. I think you shouldn't change for anyone. And it got more abusive and well it ended. If there are certain things that are tempting you to think of him/her maybe you can collect it all and put them away. Track your emotions, if you're tempted to reach out to your ex only when you feel lonely or scared, maybe try to work out a way where you wouldn't have to think of him/her during your times of need, you can reach out to your trusted friends, maybe in this instance. For me the first one works everytime. Oh or maybe listen to 'clean' by Taylor Swift it's got a very good bridge part. Okay sorry 😅 anyways i hope it works out!

I acknowledge the thought that I want to contact him but distract myself on things that matter so I do not follow through with the thought.