I’m so tired of dating. I’m a 23M. I’ve only been in a relationship once that lasted 6 months. I’m in a weird position where I want to meet someone but I can’t. I don’t really get opportunities to meet anyone. I live with my parents, my job is surrounded by people older than I. My friends all have SO’s. My family and now my friends have kind of put pressure on me. It sucks being the odd one out.
I’ve tried dating apps but they suck. Im not that ugly or overweight. Im just not attractive enough for someone to get matches. I’m not a boring guy and I have a good career. But I’m not the confident type to go up to a random person. I’ve got crippling anxiety about that.
I’ve been told I come off as being older than I am which is great for work but awful for dating. I would rather just not date at all but I’ve just become increasingly lonely.
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Gosh this is relatable but I have had some success in dating I just cannot find anyone genuine and wants to last
Join a club of like-minded people or people with a similar hobby. Stay positive, let the positivity shine, and best of luck!
The good news is that you are 23! Can you just go to more parties/events and meet mutual friends?
Honestly if you’re not into dating maybe take some time, focus on yourself maybe try out some hobbies? And who knows you might find someone that way without the pressure of like ”looking“ for a partner.
To be real with you I understand this so much, the constant draining feeling of wanting to be with someone but also not even wanting to try sucks, the way I really cope with it is by constantly hanging out with friends whether thats online or in person. Also have genuinely enjoyed finding different hobbies, I have found a couple that are that fun to where it doesn’t make me feel alone. It keeps me at peace with being by myself.
Look up dating/singles events in your area.
I am an introvert. I loved going to the range. My now wife worked at that range. I ignored her while my friends were trying to talk her up. They got her facebook and I sent a friend request. She accepted and we started talking about cats. One day she invited me to the fair. One of the booth guys was like if you can hit a balloon with a dart, she kisses you.
Bet your ass I nailed that balloon.
Edit: For the OP, you find love unexpectantly and when you aren’t looking for it.
My ex approached me at work maybe try a new hobby? Workplace? I mean I won’t even try dating app as a woman it sucks lmao the kinda guys you get just sucks lol
So good news/bad news. Let’s start with the bad. The chemicals in your brain for attraction generally last around 6 months. It’s a fairly big step to have a relationship go past that (which is kinda good news as it means you two really weren’t that compatible). Good news: you are only 23. There are billions of people in this world, some of them will love you. You might need to find those and see if you love them back. Also who you are now isn’t who you’ll be later. Even strangers you pass by today you could run in to later in life where you both are people who find each other more interesting. Give yourself some time, who you are isn’t defined by you being in a relationship. And frankly if you are making that the case you are setting yourself to fail. Good luck.
If you are more mature for your age try dating older women.
I dated older women most of my life and married one.
Work on your anxiety and start approaching people. The one thing I learned is they almost never come to you.
A great way to meet people that you might get along with is to join a club. Like if you like board games or D&D. If you like hiking, there are clubs for that too. So look for some things you enjoy doing and join an activity for one or more of those things. That way you can build friendships and maybe a potential romantic relationship. Just go into it with the objective of having fun and meeting some new friends!
This almost feels like someone wrote this about me lol. Minus the good career. I’m currently working on that and hopefully in time it’ll come. Dating apps should’ve been great for the guys like us who are anxious about in person approaches, but instead it just made things worse.
Why do you live with your parents
Also a young person and in a relationship, but for most of my young adult years I felt the same way.
The modern dating scene is really just awful and I spent most of the time getting ghosted/led on/dumped for someone else.