Is this normal?

Yes its normal as others have said. But perhaps there are a couple of blockers in your path that if you get past them you can truly start to recover. So how about some talking therapy?

I separated end of 2006. And it took me a couple of years to start to settle down. By then I had been at counselling for around a year. It took me that long to start my recovery. But little by little I made headway and now 8 years on, its well past me. But.... This is a part of your life like its a part of mine. Its something I have learned to live with. Like you will have to learn to live with. But is tough. Make no mistake. But your among company. Lots of people in the same boat as you. Have a think about what we have said to you. Marshy.

Thanks for all the replies everyone. What I take out if it, and this is very helpful, is that time heals. I do keep thinking to myself that in a few months'' time even though I won''t be "cured", I''ll be able to handle this better.

I have suffered bereavement before and this situation I am in now feels very, very similar. Back then it was time that made all the difference...

I never got over the loss but I manage it.