Why can’t I stop thinking about my ex from almost 8 years ago?

Maybe that person affected you a lot and maybe the memories are very deep to forget. Maybe you planned your whole life with that person and now it hurts that he/she isn't in your life anymore. Maybe there is a void that needs to be filled. Not at once, but trust me, it will be filled, slowly, with continuous effort. Feel good about yourself. You are your best friend, be there for yourself.

Moving on is tough work and it happens very gradually. Even when you’re mostly “over” the heartache and the denial of trying to make things work your person is still going to be the “default” setting until you date someone new. This can mean months and even years are spent thinking about them as the person you end up with. It’s not weird, it’s just how we work. We cannot choose to erase someone from our minds. They are there as long as they are there and there is very little we can do about it. We can’t control when we will stop thinking about them, and that’s okay, it will happen naturally — our bodies and our minds know the best timing anyways. What we can do is open ourselves up to the future. Move the body and the mind follows. We can get rid of the past we are holding on to whether by keeping physical items of our exes around or by refusing to step out and date someone new. We can remain open to possibility, not tied to a particular notion of who the “perfect person” for us is. We can be happy and hopeful — happy that we are wiser than before and hopeful that it will be put to good use.

I personally didn't get over a particular ex until I went through another experience that kind of wiped everything else from my mind. It wasn't the most pleasant experience, but you might be able to get something similar by going on a vacation, or start dating someone else that is new. Give yourself permission to move on, and force yourself to do it, even if it doesn't sound like the most fun, and the fact that you are thinking about new things might let you move on.

The key word is to let it go. I know its easier said than done, but know that you gave your 110% and thats what matters..You have to start letting others in and seeing other people..Move forward and not let the past stop you from moving to your future...

Sometimes it is hard to get over someone, of whom you once were in a serious relationship with. Just try to get your mind off of him/her and focus on yourself.