Ouch.  Just Ouch.  There is just nothing that hurts as much as being dumped.  Okay, having to break-up with someone you are in love with, but the relationship is abusive is worse.  But it all hurts.

We talked about Denial.  Anger is the next stage.  Angry at them, angry at yourself angry at the world.  But Bargaining is the stage that you have to watch out for.  What is Bargaining?  It is that the pain is so bad and you want your ex in your life so much you “bargain” your self-esteem away.  This is where you think of things like:  moving out, living separately and “dating”; opening up the relationship to other people; trying to be friends.  Anything to be close, anything to not have to come to terms that your relationship is over.

Again, ouch.