So difficult
I think bouts of casual dating would be nice. You'll find numerous people, and eventually you'll find the one.
It'll be fine in the end.
It's not a race but hurtloam is not immortal either. She is not a teen and she's not getting any younger, so her concern is justified.
In other words, it is a race.
A race against the grave...
Or a race against not turning into someone who only talks about mortgages and sofas.
The_Face_of_Boo
Veteran

Joined: 16 Jun 2010
Age: 39
Gender: Male
Posts: 31,201
Location: Beirut, Lebanon.
Selective mutism? Or just anxiety in general?
I think it's selective mutism. I just don't have any words to say.
A related thing is when I was in school I couldn't answer up even though I knew the answer. I found I hard to pull the words together. I think in vague concepts rather than in words. I can understand a thing well, but I have to perform mental gymnastics to put it into words. It's difficult to form words, especially when I'm tired or anxious.
I think that's why I like Internet girls. I can get comfortable chatting with them before we even meet.
2-3 weeks of chating online first always helped me open up and seem confident I guess. However most women in dating sites want to meet up after few messages it seems.
The thing that really hurts about this is I found someone who I was comfortable with who was affectionate towards me and genuinely seemed to like me.
After waiting so long for something like that, he felt the need to tell me we were just friends.
I'm just so hurt. Not so much by him. If he has no feelings for me then fine. But it just seems that no one ever likes me and that hurts so much. Why am I sub standard?
I had a dream last night that I met him and he was going out with someone prettier than me. I feel rotten today.
IMO no one is substandard, it's that no one has figured out any kind of humane standards.
_________________
"Standing on a well-chilled cinder, we see the fading of the suns, and try to recall the vanished brilliance of the origin of the worlds."
-Georges Lemaitre
"I fly through hyperspace, in my green computer interface"
-Gem Tos

I had a dream last night that I met him and he was going out with someone prettier than me. I feel rotten today.
Do you think he's spending a comparable amount of his time thinking of you, even in dreams? I'm sure you have much better things to devote yours to.
So he's going out with someone prettier than you? There must be a lot of men out there who'd like to help you get over him. They may be more substandard than you, though.
_________________
The red lake has been forgotten. A dust devil stuns you long enough to shroud forever those last shards of wisdom. The breeze rocking this forlorn wasteland whispers in your ears, “Não resta mais que uma sombra”.
After waiting so long for something like that, he felt the need to tell me we were just friends.
I'm just so hurt. Not so much by him. If he has no feelings for me then fine. But it just seems that no one ever likes me and that hurts so much. Why am I sub standard?
I had a dream last night that I met him and he was going out with someone prettier than me. I feel rotten today.
You are far from substandard, hurtloam. Did you look up emotional flashbacks, like I mentioned? This kind of situation is probably (unconsciously) reminding you of all the times you felt you had to be perfect to please your mom. What you're experiencing with this guy is hard, but the pain and discomfort will become magnified by all those bad things from the past.
High Llama gives good advice above.
I am sorry things didn't work out with this guy. However, it is very possible that the reasons this guy didn't want a relationship were all about him and not about you. You are not sub-standard. From the basis of 'here' you are great.
I always though of it as a balance between needs and wants. If you really need something you have limited options to choose as you just go for whatever is most readily available. If your needs are filled then you can focus, with a clear head, on what you really want.
Be someone who takes care of yourself and who is self sufficient and who can be the master of your own happiness and fulfilment. Then it will be clear what you really want from a partner. Then you will also be more attractive to a partner because they will know you are choosing them specifically for who they are and for what they can contribute to you as opposed to just to fulfil a need.
.... and for the relentless "women want money, fame and glory" men out there... when I write contribute I don't mean wealth, a certain job or certain material assets. I mean qualities (such as patience, passion, interests, and intellect.)
_________________
"I will file you under "L" for people I love most. "
Maybe it would help if your name was "happysand" instead of "hurtdirt"??

It is happy sand
After waiting so long for something like that, he felt the need to tell me we were just friends.
I'm just so hurt. Not so much by him. If he has no feelings for me then fine. But it just seems that no one ever likes me and that hurts so much. Why am I sub standard?
I had a dream last night that I met him and he was going out with someone prettier than me. I feel rotten today.
You are far from substandard, hurtloam. Did you look up emotional flashbacks, like I mentioned? This kind of situation is probably (unconsciously) reminding you of all the times you felt you had to be perfect to please your mom. What you're experiencing with this guy is hard, but the pain and discomfort will become magnified by all those bad things from the past.
You know what. When I was reading about flashbacks it actually made me think about school and dealing with teachers.
Be someone who takes care of yourself and who is self sufficient and who can be the master of your own happiness and fulfilment. Then it will be clear what you really want from a partner. Then you will also be more attractive to a partner because they will know you are choosing them specifically for who they are and for what they can contribute to you as opposed to just to fulfil a need.
.... and for the relentless "women want money, fame and glory" men out there... when I write contribute I don't mean wealth, a certain job or certain material assets. I mean qualities (such as patience, passion, interests, and intellect.)
I've been doing that for years and no one has turned up.
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