Have you experienced unrequited love?

I was in love with someone who I thought she loved me back. She left me and I was devistated. She apologized for leading me on. And never turned back.

Yes, I think there is nobody who has not been through that, it is part of the love playing field. Some get over it quickly and move on yet others, due to their brain chemistry, feel as if the world has ended. I fell into the second category, especially since there was no closure or explanation. I took it so seriously that I was a wreck for quite some time. In retrospect, I laugh at how stupid I must have seemed begging for his attention/explanation. I was no spring chicken either, yet the rejection was unbearable. It had physical and psychological effects. Luckily I had family around me to wake me up.

I feel so stupid for having reacted like an idiot. NOBODY is worth that. I thank my lucky stars it didn’t work out because it simply was not meant to, we were not right for each other and it would have just been a waste of time and hopes. After some time I met my life partner who is worth his weight in gold, diamonds and every precious stone/metal on earth.
Believe me, when I looked back at my pathetic self literally dragging my mind and body through the day, I want to slap that weakling in the face. I guess what hurt most was the way it happened. Anyway, get out move on, keep busy, meet your friends, pamper yourself and soon it will just be a distant memory. That person may have made your life a misery had it worked out. Let it go and walk on.

Hasn’t everyone?
It is one of the “growing pains” we all have.

Yes. It’s awful. Until I could accept that the feelings were mine, and didn’t need (or even weren’t really about) the specific person I was fixed on. Nothing real is lost when you learn that the person you hoped would love you back, doesn’t and won’t. You can use your love with someone else who will appreciate it well, and who will love you back.

In each case, there’s been an “aha!” moment when I get that I’ve just made a mistake about interpreting the situation, and my feelings stop being attached to the specific person, and it fixes it.

If it makes you feel any better, after about 50 years I don’t remember any.

Yes, and it was very, very difficult. The guy and I were together on and off for 3 years—today it would be called “friends with benefits,” but I was head over heels in love with him. I thought it was mutual. After a 2 week vacation together when we were 19, I came home, found out I was pregnant, and he disappeared. I kept the baby (growing up in the South has its effects). We got back together 2 years later—he disappeared again. One more try 2 more years later, and again he disappeared. Before he disappeared this time, he said, “You see more in me than I can be.” It was very hard to accept two things—first, it wasn’t me—I wasn’t the undesirable, gross, unwanted person to be discarded, and second, I was in love with his potential, not who he really was. Once I understood that, I was able to fully, 100% let go.

I have no regrets—I have a 23 year old son who still surprises me at how amazing a human being he is.