Great responses, thank you.

I agree that it is best to let things go, or not look back on things with negativity. However, its hard for me since I have chosen a path of total solitude since my last relationship. I remember what being with someone felt like and it is a reminder. The problem I was and still am having is not being rendered useless by a flashback. I had one just this morning as I was exiting a dream. I find that my brain copes with things best by making me look at them. "Don't bury that feeling, deal with it."

I still have an ache of love from 4 years ago, but now it reminds me of that time not out of regret but out of the hope that I, one day, might have that feeling again. I don't intend to go looking for it, but I'm not going to inhibit. Feelings around trauma are notoriously tough to face. I hope I can explore this state with you and continue to invest in ways to improve coping.

Distractions help me, and writing things down seems to be the best remedy of all. I have been posting with increased frequency on my blog of late.

Thanks for your feedback, this was just the sort of thing I was hoping for.