Does separated = single?

While I don't advocate holding onto a thread of hope if there doesn't seem to be any chance of reconciliation, I would advise against dating anyone while you're separated. I don't think it's the equivalent of being single. And you can be certain that it would seal the deal for the relationship being forever over. That doesn't mean that if you don't date you will reconcile, obviously... but if you're still in the grieving process than you're not ready for a new relationship and a fling could do a lot more harm than good - for everyone.

I'm going to approach this from a different angle. I am separated. Do I date? Yes, I do. Is my husband dating? Yes, he is. I am happy for him. Actually, I am happy that he has someone else in his life and that he's not alone all the time. When he's dating, he doesn't pick fights with me about nothing, we don't argue over every little thing because he's mad at me for wanting out of the marriage, and it's just peaceful. So do what you would expect your husband to do. If you're going to counseling and you haven't given up on your marriage and you don't want him to give up, then don't date. Do call those guy friends that your husband never let you talk to, and feel free to talk to all your friends you may have lost touch with. And if you're not ready to date, tell your friends, thank you, but I am not ready yet. I'll let you know if and when I'm ready and willing to be fixed up. In the meantime, group gatherings and girl time is always welcome.

Seperated does not mean single, it means you're trying to work things out in your marriage. When you've exhausted every chance at reconciliation then it's time for divorce. After the divorce you are single and free to date.

Single means not in a committed relationship. There's no reason you can't "think about dating" while, for all intents & purposes, you're single. Don't let people impose their morality on you. Those kinds people will judge you no matter what you do. Do what feels right. If you have to talk yourself into dating, you're not ready.

I don't think it's possible. Not if there might be a chance you would get back together. When my husband and I separated, I wanted nothing to do with any relationship at all. I didn't want to make things worse for us by being selfish.

I think that's important not to bring a third party into your marriage or divorse. Keep things between you two and if and when you get divorced, either one will resent the other for dating before the t are crossed. You also don't want to think "if he/she wasn't dating when we were separated could we have worked things out and still be together"?

I think I'm somewhere in the middle. Right now, I know I'm not ready to start dating. Besides the fact that I've actually NEVER dated in any real sense (yes, we've been together that long) and I have no idea HOW, my heart still hurts too much. That said, I do think about how nice it would be to be able to spend time with someone who actually wants to spend time with me. To be kissed. To hold hands. And I think I'll be ready to open myself up to those possibilities before our divorce is final legally (our state is indeed one that requires a mandatory waiting period of a year after a formal separation). Because like I said, in every other way, we're divorced already, and soon enough it will be time to start moving forward.

I feel it is possible to be separated and single at the same time. If the marriage is no longer capable of being salvage then it is time to let it go and most definitely move on. I have been separated from my husband for over 3 years. I felt it was the very best thing to do because I have an disabled daughter whom he would ridicule constantly. I had started dating again an six months after I was separated from my estrange husband. Since my separation from him our life has totally been much happier and I don't have but one man in my life right now that I am seeing and my daughter is very fond of basically because he treats her as an regular normal girl.