You thought divorce was the right choice, but these heartbreaking signs prove you might have made a huge mistake.
You thought splitting up was the best decision—but now, doubt is creeping in. Late-night overthinking, unexpected nostalgia, and that nagging “what if” won’t leave you alone. No one talks about the regrets that can come after divorce, but they’re real, and they can hit hard.
Maybe you moved on, or maybe you’re stuck in a loop of second-guessing. If any of this sounds familiar, it’s time to face the truth: you might secretly regret divorcing your ex.
1. You miss them more than you expected—way more.
At first, you thought you’d be relieved, even excited, to start fresh. But instead of feeling free, you find yourself constantly thinking about them. Their laugh, their quirks, even the little things that used to annoy you now feel oddly comforting. Nostalgia hits you at random moments—while driving past your favorite restaurant or hearing a song you both loved. If you’re missing them more than you ever imagined, regret might be sneaking up on you.
2. You compare everyone to them, and no one measures up.
Dating again was supposed to be fun, right? But every time you meet someone new, you find yourself mentally stacking them up against your ex—and they always fall short. No one makes you laugh the same way, understands your weird habits, or gives you that deep, familiar comfort. Even when someone checks all the right boxes, something still feels… off. If your ex has become the gold standard, there’s a good chance you regret letting them go.
3. You still bring them up in conversations—constantly.
Your friends and family have noticed it. No matter what the topic is, you somehow find a way to mention your ex. Maybe it’s a funny story, an old inside joke, or something they used to say that suddenly seems relevant. You might tell yourself it’s just habit, but deep down, it’s a sign they still hold space in your heart. If you can’t stop talking about them, you probably haven’t really moved on.
4. Seeing them happy without you stings—badly.
You told yourself you wanted them to be happy. You even convinced yourself that you’d feel relieved when they moved on. But then it happened—they’re thriving, smiling, and maybe even in love again—and it hits you like a punch to the gut. Instead of feeling peace, you feel jealousy, sadness, or even anger. If their happiness makes you miserable, it’s a sign you might not have been as ready to let go as you thought.
5. You secretly hope they’ll reach out and want you back.
Every time your phone buzzes, for a split second, you wonder if it’s them. You imagine what it would be like if they texted, called, or confessed they still love you. Maybe you even find excuses to check their social media or ask mutual friends about them. If you’re holding onto hope that they’ll come back, it’s because deep down, part of you still wants them. And that’s a pretty big sign of regret.
6. You remember the good times way more than the bad.
Before the divorce, you focused on everything that was wrong. But now? The fights and frustrations feel blurry, while the happy memories stand out like a highlight reel. You catch yourself reminiscing about vacations, lazy Sunday mornings, or that time you both laughed until you cried. If your brain is filtering out the bad and only showing you the good, it could mean you regret ending things.
7. You feel lonelier than you ever expected.
Single life was supposed to feel freeing. Instead, it feels empty. Even when you’re surrounded by people, there’s a loneliness you can’t shake. Nights are the worst—no one to talk to, no one to share the little details of your day with. You miss the companionship, the routine, the feeling of belonging to someone. If your life feels quieter in a painful way, you might be regretting the choice to walk away.
8. You’ve thought about getting back together—even if just for a second.
Maybe you’ve dismissed the idea just as quickly as it popped into your head, but the fact that it crossed your mind at all is telling. You wonder if things could be different now, if you’ve both changed enough to make it work. Maybe you even imagine reaching out, just to see if there’s still something there. If you’ve entertained the thought of reconciliation, even briefly, there’s a good chance you regret the divorce.
9. You keep finding excuses to stay connected.
Do you still text them about random things that don’t really need a response? Do you find ways to run into them or keep up with their life? Maybe you tell yourself it’s about the kids, shared responsibilities, or just being “friendly.” But deep down, you know you don’t actually need to stay this involved. If you’re still clinging to any connection you can, it’s a sure sign you’re not over them—and maybe you don’t want to be.
10. You envy couples who are still together.
Seeing happy couples—whether it’s friends, family, or strangers—triggers something in you. Instead of feeling indifferent, you feel a pang of sadness or jealousy. You wonder if you gave up too soon or if you could have fought harder to make it work. If you’re constantly longing for what other couples have, it might be because you miss what you used to have.
11. You catch yourself dreaming about what could have been.
You imagine a different version of your life—the one where you never split up. Maybe you picture holidays together, growing old side by side, or fixing the things that tore you apart. These thoughts don’t feel like simple nostalgia; they feel like longing. If you keep replaying “what if” scenarios in your mind, it’s because part of you still wishes things had turned out differently.
12. You’re realizing the problems weren’t as bad as they seemed.
Time has a way of softening the rough edges. What once felt unbearable now seems fixable. You start wondering if you overreacted, if you let frustration cloud your judgment, or if you focused too much on what was wrong instead of what was right. If you’re looking back and thinking, Maybe it wasn’t so bad after all, it’s a major sign that regret is creeping in.
13. You haven’t truly moved on, even if you pretend you have.
You tell people you’re fine. Maybe you even act like you’re loving the single life. But deep down, you know you’re still stuck in the past. You compare, you reminisce, you wonder. Maybe you’re even scared to fully move on because it would mean accepting that it’s really over. If you’re still emotionally tied to your ex, even if you don’t admit it, that’s the clearest sign of all—you regret your divorce more than you’re willing to say.