I feel like I’m going to miss my chance at finding a good partner

Hey guys, I have something I want to vent on and get some advice for.

So, I (25m)was broken up with back at the end of 2024 and have been single since. I’ve had plenty of sex and have gone on dates with a lot of different women but I can’t seem to find someone that I actually want to or see myself being with long term.

I’ve had a handful of women interested in dating and making things more serious but I end up just slowly pushing them away and sort of moving on. I’m scared that I’m looking for something not only similar to what I had with my ex gf but something that might pass me up if I continue this habit.

My mom passed as the end of 2025 and it sent me into a pretty bad alcoholic spiral which is where I just had a bunch of drunk one night stands and was drinking by myself a lot. I’m out of that now but I’m currently in EMT school and feel as though I have 0 time to give to anyone so the cycle of being alone is continuing.

For example, I met this girl on tinder a few months ago and we hooked up a bunch and went on a handful of dates. She really liked me but for whatever reason I really didn’t see myself wanting to be with her so I kinda ghosted her/strung her along for the past few months until she finally broke things off for good with me yesterday via text.

I’ve been in a bit of a man whore phase but I desperately want to find someone and something longer term and idk how to pull my head out of my ass. I feel like I’m looking for “perfect” though I know that really doesn’t exist in people. I’m afraid that with being 25 all the good ones are getting swooped up already and that’s scaring me. Ik that’s a bad mindset to have but it’s the one I’m in but and im not willing to just settle for someone that I don’t find accompanies me well.

Im crazy outgoing and I keep meeting women who are introverted as they get and that’s a huge turn off for me. All the outgoing girls I meet seem to already have bf’s bc they are just more fun to be around and people are naturally drawn to them. Ik I’m probably trippin but idk how to stop letting myself not give effort to people who clearly like me. Am I just being too picky do you think? Ik this is written poorly but I worked all day last night and was up at 4 am to get ready for my class this morning so my brain is kinda fried rn.

Any advice on how to stop hurting these girl and give them an actual shot would be much appreciated. Cheers!