My ex (28 F), who is my (34 M) best friend is seeing someone else and I am struggling to cope
Hey reddit I need your help, or maybe I just need to vent.
I (34 M) broke up with my partner (28 F) 6 months ago, we were absolutely ideal in all of our interests, music taste, diet, but we just clashed, really badly at points and we both thought it would be best to break up.
However, it was clear we both didn't want to be apart so we remained close - best friends and have been hanging out with eachother all the time, almost every day. The weekends shed stay at mine and we'd go hiking, grab some food, go out for drinks. We just did it as friends, shed sleep in the other room, there wouldn't be any physical contact etc. I was okay with this because I had her in my life and we could still do everything we enjoyed together.
The past 2 weeks she's barley replied to my messages and she told me last night that she's started seeing someone. I ended up going on a 5 hour drive to try to clear my mind, but I can't help but feel sick to my stomach I guess I'm not over her at all.
I told her that I completely understand she's started to see someone, because we both agreed we weren't together anymore, and I told her I was happy for her. I want her to succeed in life, be the happiest she can be and I know we're so similar that we both need another person in our lives (perhaps not the healthiest but I've realised that's the kind of person I am).
I just can't help but feel like my chest has been ripped apart, and that feeling in my gut won't go away.
I'll be honest she's the only friend I have, I don't talk to anyone else, as someone who has social anxiety I've always found it hard to socialise but not with her.
Could you give me some advice on how to cope or what I should do? I don't want to step away, I can't rip my life apart like that but I don't know what's best!
TLDR; My partner (28 F) and I (34 M) broke up but decided to be best mates. Now she's seeing someone else and it's ripped me apart. What should I do?