Everybody is familiar with the problems of the heart, the emotional kind. Getting ditched is very depressing. But you have no choice but to be philosophical about it and will yourself to go on with your life and get over the pain. But since the pain remains and the thought of being hit again is overwhelming, it becomes difficult to decide.
How will you know if you are ready to try and date again after that traumatic experience? That will depend on how strong the person is. If your earlier partnership lasted for few months, you can recover sooner, but if the earlier partnership lasted for some years, it takes a lot more time to get prepared mentally to go back to the dating scene. Some would not be able to help but feel the rancor for a long time. This is one instance when you will need all the help you can, especially from somebody who will have the patience and understanding to nurse your heart back to health.
Serious relationships usually start with a date. You plan for the future and you are recognized as a regular date of that person amongst your friends. This is the time when trust comes into the picture. You keep your part of the bargain and do what you can to keep the fire burning. The future looks very promising and you lives became closely linked together. You and your partner are now fully committed. Then you are ditched and your world comes crashing down and how can you live on? How can you trust somebody again? What are you to do?
Involve yourself with your work. Learn ballroom dancing. Meet other people. Enroll in a yoga class or a gym. Take that long delayed skiing trip. You will keep remembering the betrayal and get hurt each time, let it be! You cannot keep a lid on your memories. They will remain there to resurface again. So feel every pain and cry over the loss if necessary. It will make you mad and fuming, but it will be worth it. Cleanse yourself as much as possible of the memories.
After you are sure that you have regained your emotional stability, go back to the dating scene. If you find a sympathetic ear, then be frank and tell your story and ask for understanding and patience. Play your cards right and you will get right back in the dating game.