That you haven't found anyone that seems attractive sounds like you not letting go of the picture you created in your mind of your ex, not the actual reality you had. Because if the love relationship that you look back on as so perfect had been real, it wouldn't have ended. It's possible to love an idealized picture that includes a lot of wishful thinking and revised memories, which doesn't do much for any new flesh-and-blood person with whom you might get together. If you're trying to let go of your ex in your mind, remember that a large part of what you're letting go of is not real, but is instead a fantasy memory you created.
I think the above is right, but I also think that all relationships including friendships are based on a lot of fantasy. When we hit it off with someone we can't really say why exactly, and a large part of having a relationship is idealization of the other person or none of us would ever have one. I mean, we're all full of flaws, so it does take some idealization to move beyond that. I think some of us just have a harder time letting go than others because we bond more strongly, but we don't do that with everyone we meet, only with some people. In hindsight, everyone looks less wonderful, just as the longer we're with someone the more flaws we notice as they get repeated. I had the same problem when I was young, I bonded much more tightly than my partners did. I got really hurt, they didn't. But then there's also the problem of unequal relationships that seem equal because the person we're with isn't leveling with us. Or we're not leveling with ourselves. Or we're fooling ourselves because we want what we want. Usually, time takes care of this. When time doesn't take care of it, that's when you do what you have done, which is seeing a therapist and working on the insecurity you have that keeps you bound to someone who clearly wasn't bound to you in the same way you were bound. It happens, a lot. The only advice I can give based on my mistakes is, learn to move on, whatever it takes to do that. Hanging on to someone who has let you go and moved on just hurts. It's very unlikely any of us has only one soulmate in this world full of people. Annie is right, we do in part make that part up. The way one moves on is to just do it. Find things to do you like to do and meet other people and eventually the memory fades and you find someone else. Some of us take a long time to do that. Some never do that. Some find it easy. It's just the difference in how important bonding is to us at a particular time. I met my soulmate a lifetime ago and she moved on and I never really did, but I did do a lot of other things and did meet other people. How do you move on? You just do it. Keep at it with that therapist, and this will pass. Peace.
Are you remembering your ex honestly? Are you remembering him with all his flaws? All the times he hurt your feelings, or made you really mad? If the relationship was that wonderful, why aren't you still together?
The trauma bonding - are you working on healing the trauma?
I think sometimes it's really easy to fall into thinking, "He must be the one for me because he accepted me knowing about my health issues, or even though I did x, y, or z, or (fill in the blank appropriately)", when we think no one else will. Or we think back and romanticize it all, like "he took great care of me, he took the trash out, he got my oil changed in my car, mowed the yard", even if at the same time, he was emotionally abusive or something. Realistically, you can take your own trash out, go to an oil change place, and mow your own yard or pay a neighbor kid to do it, right?
Paxiled's right - stick with the therapy. Even if this guy was great, you can still find other, equally great men, but work on healing first. :)
What does your therapist say about letting go? Do they have any suggestions for you. We can definitely 'get stuck' and then it becomes how to take actionable steps to get unstuck. What does your therapist recommend you do? Moving on to other relationships can be a step that often happens too soon when we aren't fully over someone. Even though it has been a long time, it still sounds like you aren't ready to have new romance just yet. I found that after a break up, it helped to make goals for myself. To think about how I wanted life to be, who I personally wanted to be in order to be my best self, etc That put me in a better frame of mind. It helped me be 'ready' for the next person. You mention trauma in that relationship and codependency. These are things to really dig in with your therapist about. You don't want to repeat any negative patterns. And it can give you insight on moving forward. hugs
I didnt get over my ex for 3 years either, i even had boyfriends and still wasnt over my ex. All it takes is time, focus on your own happiness and being happy on your own, if he is meant to be in your life he will find a way back and if not, you will find the right one at the right time. Most importantly, dont look for someone to come, when you realise you are happy and in control on your own, you will be the happiest and most confident you ever have been. Try looking into the law of attraction, properly study it, this honestly helped me and i really became the happiest person ever on my own.