Is it okay to still miss my ex even though the relationship was toxic?
Relationships & Divorce
Missing a toxic ex is normal because you're grieving the good parts and the potential you saw, not necessarily wanting them back.
It's completely normal to miss an ex even if the relationship was toxic. You're not missing the toxic parts - you're grieving the good moments, the potential you saw, the intimacy you shared, and the future you had imagined. Toxic Interpersonal relationship often involve intermittent reinforcement, where good moments feel extra special because they're rare. Missing them doesn't mean you want them back or that you should reconnect. It means you're human and you formed an Attachment theory, even to someone who wasn't good for you.