There's that one ex who just sticks to you like syrup... You can't seem to forget about them no matter how hard you try, but you know you're better off without them, and won't go back to them and put yourself through hell again.

You're ready to start putting yourself back out there, hoping this time you'll find who you've been hoping for. You're back on a dating app, or trying to chat it up with the cutie in your chem lab and eventually, you score their number. Texts and Snapchats follow, and you're super excited to get to know them more.

A hookup probably comes soon, and you get more and more comfortable with them every day. However, they bring up their ex a lot. Like, way too much for normal conversation. At first, you simply ignore it, everyone likes to rant about their ex, but soon it just gets plain annoying and offensive. You're right there, 10 times better than their ex, yet they can't see it.

It's so rude to talk to someone about your ex, especially if you just started dating or simply seeing someone new. I get it, everyone likes to rant, but there comes a time that you either move on truly or stay stuck on your ex a lot longer than you need to be. Not every breakup is the same. Some are clean, some are messy, and others are in between. Whether it's an ended situationship or the breakup of high school sweethearts, a breakup is a breakup and you have to allow yourself time to heal.

If you don't take time to yourself, you're never going to face the emotions you're hiding from. Using someone to get over someone else is not the way to go. Don't just date the first person who gives you attention because you think it will help you get back up on your feet. Whoever you're talking to deserves you at your best, not when you're still hoping your ex will change their mind and want you again.

It's not easy to get over someone and I'm not saying you need to be completely and utterly over your ex before looking for someone new. I'm saying if you're that person who knows you can't give your all to someone new, why bother leading them on? They don't want all that emotional baggage and I doubt you would either in the same sense.

Take some time for self-love. Don't jump in bed to solve your problems. Go to the beach, buy a cute shirt, or just spend quality time with your friends and family. Look up quotes that make you realize there is hope over the really steep hill. All I and countless other people can ask is that you don't mess with our heads because yours isn't in a good space. Let whoever expresses interest in you know that you're not over your ex and whether they stick around or bail is up to fate.

Your ex has probably moved on and found someone new, and it's time for you to choose you and move on too.