I seem to have a problem when I run into an ex in public. Even though I'm over her and been with other women, I still freak out. My palms sweat and my heart races and I have all this horrible anxiety. Where does it come from and what do I do about it?

It all depends how you broke up.

by the sounds of it you probably left on bad terms

I'm sure you are feeling that its your fault that the relationship has ended, therefore in your mind she can get away with doing what ever she wants as she has made you think you deserve it.

in a way the relationship is still going, until you both decide to go your seperate ways, shes obviously not mature enough to forgive you for your natural instincts and wishes to punish you by making you feel guilty. and when YOU feel like shes "punished" you enough you wont feel bad anymore, extra punishments wont do anything to you as you will see them as unreasonable and therefore no guilt. and when SHE feels she has punished you enough or sees that punishments aren't affecting you anymore, she will be cool with you.


hope this makes sense =/

BINGO!

I had the same problem quite a while back after mutually ending a long relationship with a girl, she took it worse than I did and subsequently I felt like I was a dick and would feel awkward whenever I saw her.

The way I got over this was by her being invited to a friend of mine's party and we had a nice chat. Since then we've been great friends and best of all, NO AWKWARDNESS!