Meghan Markle's ex-husband Trevor Engelson is still avoiding the Duchess years later, according to reports and an expert has explained to The Mirror that "prolonged pain" is to blame.
His friends are said to know they can't bring her up around him, so reportedly just avoid the topic altogether, which may just be what's best for him. Louella Alderson, co-founder of So Syncd dating app, explained: "'Out of sight, out of mind' can be a helpful strategy for some when it comes to break-ups, and there is science behind this concept... dopamine is also linked to addiction. When you no longer have regular contact with your ex, the external cues that trigger dopamine releases, such as hearing their name, are reduced or eliminated."
Although the pair are approaching 10 years of separation, Louella concedes that there's no "normal" way to respond to a break-up. She said: "It takes time to heal the emotional wounds of a divorce, and there is no set timeline for this process. Even after time has passed, it's normal for feelings of grief and loss to linger. This is our body's way of reminding us that we have been through a major transition."
Even though they've both seemed to have moved on, Louella suggested that 'banishing' and 'avoiding' Meghan's name could be a part of that process for him. She also stressed that choosing to heal from the relationship in this way isn't some sort of weakness.
An added factor that is thought could be making this process so difficult is the high-profile nature of their break-up. With Meghan ditching him and launching into royalty, what was once an A-lister relationship only got bigger. In fact, she said that he is "forced to see his ex in the media on a regular basis", so asking his friends to avoid the topic, he's cutting down on his exposure to her in a "reasonable response".
Oprah Winfrey snubs Harry and Meghan as expert claims 'the tide has turned'After all, Meghan and Trevor's divorce wasn't hounded by the public eye at the time. It went relatively under the radar. Now, Meghan's increased stardom is bringing their relationship back into the gossip of the public. What may have been seemingly healed is being rehashed out in front of the entire world.