What to say when she wants to see other people

When someone says you should both see other people, she has already made up her mind about something. She might not have decided whether the relationship ends, but she's settled on needing space or freedom from the current setup. Treating it like a debate keeps both of you stuck. The most useful thing you can do is treat it as real information. She's telling you what she needs to happen next. That doesn't mean you have to agree, but it means you need to respond to what she actually said, not to what you hope she meant.

Your reply needs to do two things that seem to pull in different directions but actually work together. First, acknowledge that you heard her and that this is a real shift, not something you're treating as a joke or a temporary mood. Second, be direct about what you want to do. That might be 'I don't want to see other people, so we should talk about whether we can fix this' or 'I understand, and I think that means we should take time apart.' The thing is not being vague. Vague replies make her think you're hoping she'll change her mind, which puts pressure on her and extends the confusion.

If this text arrives when you're already emotional, take 20 minutes. Not to craft the perfect response, but to get out of fight or flight mode. Then send something honest and direct. Don't wait days hoping she'll take it back or message again. That just looks like you're avoiding the conversation. If she doesn't reply to your clear response within a day or two, that's your answer about whether she wants to keep talking. Don't send a follow-up asking if she got it or what she's thinking. She did and she is. From there, either she reaches out with more, or you accept that this part is done and you move on.