As was stated in above posts, what you have is a full blown addiction. This is not said lightly or as an over-used metaphor. The fact is, the feelings you have when you think about him, obsess over him, look at his picture, imagine having sex with him and remember the times when you two were more emotionally connected, are setting off endorphin's in your brain. Those are giving you a physical as well as psychological 'high'. That's why its so difficult to cut ties with him, and so difficult to stop thinking about him.

Your brain has become used to these feelings, and craves them, much like smoker craves a cig, or a drug addict craves the drug that has put them in such an all encompassing high, whenever they receive it. The only cure is to remove yourself from the 'drug'...as was suggested above, and try to substitute all the things you do to kick-start your endorphin's, with other things, which...no, won't feel the same, but still, are required for you to beat this addiction.

Is it easy? Hell, no it isn't easy. But if you want to be a healthy person, you need to do it. Speak to friends, when you feel especially low, post here, we'll listen and support you on your road to recovery (to make use of an overused expression). I know it hurts, and your whole mind and body rejects even the thought of addressing this issue with any sense of determination. But trust me, you'll be better for it, and when you're far enough from it, you WILL look back and wonder how you got so caught up.

Time frame? Depending on the strength of the addiction and of course how much time you've already spent in it....I'm suggesting 5 months to a year...but the stronger YOU get, over time, will greatly shorten that timeframe. Again, it's about substitution, and finding the things in life that mean something to you, FOR you, rather than for him or anyone else.

And while it is a good and healthy thing for you to have a grieving period......Word of warning.....try not to get caught up in the 'hurt' as you pull away. Reliving how awful you feel, how sad you are, how wonderful he was once (which will make you cry) how you wish things were different (which will make you cry) how you would do anything to bring back the man he was (which will make you cry).....all of those things are just as addictive....your brain will look for any substitute that includes the original drug, because it's easier, and you can find yourself just as addicted to those thoughts as negative reinforcement---in other words, the hurt will bring it's own high...rather like a roller coaster over and over again. You think of him, you cry, you feel better but depressed, exhausted, then you think of him, you cry, you feel better, but exhausted etc. Rinse and repeat.

The idea is to leave ALL attachments to him, bad and good as far from your thoughts and your person, as you can. And like any addiction...once day at a time. Congratulate yourself for every day you make it thru....focus on the positives that you achieve...leave him...and the negatives, at the curb.

Good luck *hugs*