Long time lurker/occasional poster here. Don’t want to go into too many details as it would be outing, but I’ve hit a rough patch and would like some ideas to get myself out of it. In short, I’ve beem broken up from my ex of many years for a long time but never really moved on - now he has met someone else and I am suddenly experiencing the grief of losing him, as though it’s only just happened (it was years ago!). I was the one who instigated the break up and for good reasons, but neither of us has been in a serious relationship since and we’ve stayed good friends. I’ve worked really hard at moving on in other ways, but now I’m 38, exhausted by a high pressure job, and feel like I’ve completely lost touch with the young, creative soul I was when we were together. I’m scared that I’ll never meet anyone again that I can love like I loved him, especially not in time to have a family. I have little confidence with men anymore and feel like I’ve put really high walls up around me since the break up but I need to open up again - any ideas? I’m terrified so little steps would be appreciated!