u/Mediocre-Lack-9137

I think many people confuse emotional withdrawal with genuine heartbreak. After a breakup, people often say they "miss their ex" but if you really examine what they miss , it is not really the individual person and more what the relationship provided psychologically. They miss having someone text them every morning, someone to vent after a bad day , someone who made them feel wanted, attractive or emotionally safe.

The breakup creates an emotional vacuum , and people interpret that emptiness as missing the person themselves. This becomes even clearer when you notice how quickly some people move on once another source of attention or emotional comfort appears. If the connection was truly about the individual , replacing them emotionally wouldn't happen so fast. You get attached to the habit of being loved , the companionship and the validation that someone chooses you every day . So losing that would obviously feel like losing a part of yourself. Modern dating culture intensifies this , people are constantly seeking reassurance, emotional stimulation and validation. Relationships become less about deeply understanding each other and more about avoiding loneliness and feeling emotionally affirmed. That's why some people even miss their toxic exes, because even unhealthy attention can become psychologically addictive .

So people aren't grieving the person they are grieving the role that person played in their life . Thus if they find someone else who can fulfill that role the memory of the ex they cried about is completely gone .

I’m a 21 year old Gen Z guy and recently discovered 90s hip-hop. I genuinely can’t believe I went this long without hearing some of these artists. I listened to one of Nas’s albums Illimatic and some of those songs on there are honestly among the best I’ve ever heard.

I ended up talking to my dad about it, and he started telling me stories about music tapes back in the day hiding them from his parents, trading music with friends, and how having a great music collection was considered cool. There’s something about the way he described it that felt so different from how we experience music now our Spotify collection doesn't seem nearly as cool as a collection back in the day.

Maybe it’s nostalgia talking, but sometimes I wish music still felt that sacred and meaningful culturally as it was a few decades ago .

I went to a high school , that was totally reserved for white people until 1994 . I was the only black student in my class , and somewhere along the line questioned my identity, had trouble fitting in and adapting to my environment. There were a few other black kids at my school but less than 2%.

I'm 21 yo male , in my 1st year of college, the last time I dated was when I was 14 , had an online fling for 3 weeks recently but I don't necessarily count that . I know that being in a relationship doesn't solve all your problems, but I somehow think it can solve a lot , that's why I think I'm missing out . And my social skills, confidence and communication isn't the best , so it's kinda difficult for me to converse with girls ,but I still do it though however I panic when introducing myself to them , and most of the time it's unsuccessful, I get ghosted after a few days , some don't give their number, it seems I don't have any luck. I don't know why I'm so desperate for a relationship, even though I know it is idealized in my head. Seeing all my friends with their girlfriends makes me feel like a loser , are there many guys who go through that or am I one of a few ?

I'm a 21 year old , grew up as a Christian, dad and mom were hyper-religious . Whenever I had a question they answered "because the bible says so" . I didn't really think much about it I just went to church, and tried to be a good Christian I guess , also was the youth leader at some point and gave sermons of my own . Until I read the bible in depth , I did read it as a kid but through biased lenses . But I saw how cruel the people were and how God didn't condemn the cruelty. I don't know but God seems to me like a narcissist, who demands worship, if you don't worship him , you'll perish in hell. All of the things confused me and I'm at a point now where I don't know what the hell is going on , has my life been a lie , my belief, my views . Damn that's a hard pill to swallow.