Insecure Woman Gets Depressed After Seeing That Boyfriend Still Keeps Ex's Photos On His iPad

The boyfriend has been telling his girlfriend that it was an abusive relationship, but she's still bothered by the photos.

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• Published in Interesting
• November 30, 2023

Once you hit your twenties, chances are your significant other has a romantic history, complete with ex-loves and shared "firsts" that might have already been experienced with someone else. It's a totally normal part of life, but let's be real—it can be a bit tricky to avoid those moments of feeling a tad insecure and maybe even getting a bit too fixated on your current partner's past relationships.

They even have a term for it: retroactive jealousy. Your interest in your partner's ex can range from simple curiosity to full-on obsession or, on the flip side, a desire to avoid thinking about it altogether.

In this story from the Relationship Advice subreddit, a guy's girlfriend went from retroactive jealousy to depression. According to the original poster (OP), they've been together for nine months.

Both had left long-term relationships, deciding to delete exes' photos. One day, the OP's girlfriend borrowed his iPad.

Things took a turn when Apple's memory feature, however, unearthed an old pic of the boyfriend smiling with his ex. Despite his efforts to explain and erase all traces, the girlfriend fell into a deep depression, avoiding everything.

Now, seeking advice, the boyfriend grapples with how to mend the unintentional emotional fallout and bring back a sense of normalcy for both of them.

The OP wants advice on what to do after his girlfriend saw some pictures of him and his ex. She became depressed after seeing them

The girlfriend borrowed the OP's iPad. Then she discovered pictures of her boyfriend and his ex because of Apple's memories feature.

There's no other way but to talk it out.

The OP can only go as far as reassuring his girlfriend. If she still can't upset it, then unfortunately, it's out of the OP's hands.

If the OP's girlfriend has her own issues, then there's nothing the OP can do about it.

It's not his problem at this point. It's his girlfriend's problem to fix.

Even some women believe that the girlfriend needs some maturing to do.

Think about it. When you have tons of photos on your devices, it's hard to have time to delete them.

Sadly, the OP's girlfriend is making a big deal out of the undeleted photos.

Some users believe it's an overreaction.

People who have healthy boundaries don't need to ask their partner to delete photos of their ex.

At the age of 25, people generally have a dating history. It's simply a fact that the GF needs to accept.

A few Redditors believe it's a deal breaker. If the OP can't take it, he can consider breaking up with this girl

The solution to this problem seems simple—communication. However, the real challenge lies in the girlfriend's response.

Some users believe that it's her issue to resolve, implying a need for personal growth. Juggling busy lives and deleting every past photo may not be feasible.

The girlfriend's intense reaction, though, suggests a deeper issue. As the couple navigates this emotional hurdle, finding a balance between understanding and addressing insecurities becomes necessary in an effort to keep this relationship going

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