Well after a certain amount of time without being single you get a kind of "seperation anxiety" where, as much as you want to leave him you are, most often, subconciously afraid to leave him and start over again. Think of it as a married couple getting a divorce, if they havne dated for long enough they arent sure that they would be able to do so, to move on.
The other possiblity, which is also likely is that although you want to leave you love him, and that in itself makes things hard. I went through a break up recently because we fought all the time, and when we broke up my GF said that i was cheating on her, it hurts, and even now i wonder if maybe i made a mistake, if maybe things would have worked out better while we were at college.
You have to do what you have to do, and as for my opinion, leave him. If he treats you like that then he doesnt trust you, and a relationship wont work if there isnt trust. You just have to get the courage to tell him its off, and after you do keep your resolve and not take him back, it is usually easier if you dont talk to them.
I wish you best of luck, and hope you dont stay in a relationship that is obviously isnt working.

its not easy. but what is ? i am going through the same and i feel terrible. i try reciting some thing whenever i think about the person. i might say a prayer, or try to name all the countries in alphabethical order or i try naming the presidents in order from 1st to last. it usually works, it distracts. it takes practice, but it helps. also, signed up for match.com and it cost me a few dollars but it renewed my confidence and i only got one response. the was a nice guy but he wasn't the right guy and even though i know this - it hurts and i want the pain to go away. good luck.

By insulting you he has stolen your self-esteem. He's mentally abusive and that's the goal. It seems to be working for him but you know in the back of your mind that it isn't the way you want to be treated. It's also more difficult for you because he is the only boyfriend you've been with. Don't let him win this. The next time he insults you or calls you a name you need to tell him where to go! You will feel so good about yourself afterwards and with time you will miss him less and less. It's never easy to get over a long-term relationship but we all get through it. You can too. Don't let anyone treat you with disrespect.

i agree you need to be with someone who treats you right...your missing him simply because he has called you so many names and it has damaged your self esteem so feel like you need to hear his voice for a sort of approval although you never get it....better off without him hun...jenny