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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UVA chapter.

We’ve all had a situationship before. You’re not officially dating them, but you also aren’t just friends. You get jealous when you see them flirting with someone else, but also feel like you can’t be mad about it because you’re not technically in a relationship with them. So what do you do, when they ghost you or tell you they don’t want to hook up anymore? How do you tell your friends that you’re trying to get over a person you didn’t even date?

First things first, please know that you are allowed to call it a breakup, even though you guys were not officially dating. Labels do not matter, and if you put in a ton of effort and time into that relationship, it’s going to hurt a lot when it comes to an end. The pain, anger, and confusion you might be feeling are 100% valid, so allow yourself to be sad for a couple of days, just as you would do for any other breakup. 

You may be tempted to (re)download Tinder and start swiping on random people, just to get some validation and feel good about yourself. We’ve all been there, and craving attention after a failed talking stage is completely normal. It’s easy to think that getting compliments from strangers will make you feel better, because it usually does for a little bit, but then you soon realize that it doesn’t help you heal in the long-run.

Instead, try to focus on your friends and family, your hobbies, and practicing self-care. Watch your comfort shows, get a manicure or buy a new outfit, and avoid checking his location on snapmaps, or scrolling through his instagram every two seconds (I know it’s easier said than done!). 


Ending things with someone is always tough, regardless of the label you guys put on the relationship. Remember: you deserve so much better!!

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