Getting over an ex is seldom easy. Even if you've been treated harshly, and you're well aware that your ex is a world class jerk and you know you're much better off without them, it's difficult to get past the hurt. You have to take every opportunity you can to put the past where it firmly belongs.
One thing you can count on is that just about everybody else in the world has been there and knows the feeling all too well. Even scientists!