You are through; bridges have been burnt, and the relationship has ended. But for whatever compulsion or morbid curiosity, you keep checking their social media even after the breakup . Sometimes, it starts with a post from a mutual friend; other times, you find yourself typing their name into the search bar without much thought. You should not feel embarrassed about this, as there is an actual psychological reason behind it.
Don’t blame yourself for a lack of control or discipline. Instead, understand what triggers this behaviour and what steps you can take to break this habit. We asked Suhas K, a clinical psychologist at Maarga Mind Care, Bangalore, about the reasons behind this repetitive checking habit. He answered our questions and shared tips on how to address it. Suhas also identified the fear of missing out, or FOMO, as another possible reason for checking an ex’s social media. Over time, this behaviour may become a habit. It may become routine after some time. A memory, loneliness, boredom, or even opening the social networking application can result in finding the same familiar profile. Suhas flagged signs like persistent anxiety, feelings of hopelessness, disturbed sleep or difficulty coping with your daily duties then it is best to seek professional help as a psychiatrist could evaluate emotional problems, and a counselor could assist with attachment and separation issues.
The psychologist outlined these 5 tips in order to break the habit: Monitor your own behavior.
He said, “FOMO is often an added factor, especially when one feels like he or she is missing out on something.
