My ex of five years and I broke up about a year ago but remained together all the time, as if we were still in the relationship. Up until about a month ago we would spend every single day together, go everywhere together, spend the night at each other's house, make plans together, do absolutely everything together (kind of unhealthy, I know). From one day to the next my ex started dating someone else and put me completely aside, but I haven't been able to leave our relationship in the past and therefore, I am having a really hard time coping with everything.

From one day to the next I was no longer the most important person, my texts were being ignored, my ex didn't want to hang out any more and so on. I feel replaced and very depressed and lonely because I have no other friends.

My ex was able to move on but still wants to be friends because we were best friends for so long. I feel like I need some space to be able to heal but at the same time I feel bad not being around as a friend. I am just having a hard time knowing that there is someone else that is more important now, and I feel like a side dish. It all happened so fast and I always thought my ex still cared about me the same way and that we would end up back together eventually. I didn't see any of this coming.

Anyway, how can I be friends with my ex and put my other feelings aside?? we have to still have contact regardless because we have two dogs and neither one of us is willing to give them up.