Don't ignore the past but deal with it on your own pace. Once you deal with it you are free of it and you are free to embrace your life and be a happy loving person because if you don't the past will come back to haunt and keep coming back to haunt you.
I was associated with a woman who I was involved with and had a relationship with. She asked for money. I felt as though I was being blackmailed or there was some sort of extortion.