My ex and I got together in a whirlwind romance after meeting on the internet. We bought a house together very quickly, but our relationship didn't work out - so now we are stuck living under the same roof when we're not a couple. We can't sell the house yet for financial reasons, but I'm finding it increasingly difficult to cope with the situation. Emotionally I'm a wreck and I'm starting to wonder whether I need anti-depressants. Please help!

Susan advises
Yes, it's hard to live with someone when the feeling has died. For a start, you may not like them very much. More importantly, you're in the middle of trying to grieve the loss of the relationship and move on. Plus, there are two of you trying to do this - and the combination can be like a pressure cooker, ready to blow at any moment.

I would urge you, if you possibly can, whatever the financial problems, to move out as quickly as possible. For your own sanity - and your ability to get over this trauma - you need to be separate.

Get the house on the market, even if you take a loss. Or let one of you live there and give the other money to live elsewhere. Cut back on restaurant meals, new clothes and foreign holidays. Do anything, so long as it means you get away from each other!

If you really, really can't do this, then you need to live as separately as possible. Separate rooms, separate meals, separate bank accounts - just set it up as if you were flat sharing and keep it all on a business footing. But at the same time, don't lose sight of the fact that the two of you need to be actually living separately - and as soon as possible.