Need for a relationship

Hi everyone,

I’m 23m, and I feel a strong desire for a romantic relationship.

My last relationship lasted three and a half years; we broke up about six months ago. Recently, I spent a month getting to know a very nice woman. She ended things, explaining that she felt subconscious pressure and that, generally speaking, we weren't a good match for a romantic relationship.

I can fully understand why she felt pressured, because I was giving it 150% and simply wanted it to work too badly. That whole experience plunged me into a deep slump, and I’ve been feeling really down for days.

The early stages of dating prior to my last relationship played out similarly. I always gave 150%, though those experiences didn't throw me off balance quite as much as this one did.

I’d say I actually lead a pretty happy life. I have friends I see regularly, I exercise a lot, and things are going well professionally, too. What I’m missing, however, is a best friend I can tell everything to—or rather, I don't feel comfortable talking about this topic within my circle of friends.

I imagine there are people here with similar experiences who might be able to help me out. How can I get to the root of this compulsive desire for a romantic relationship? How can I work through this issue? Ideally on my own, though I suspect that might not be the most effective approach. I have a feeling there’s an underlying reason for it. I don't want to go through this again the next time I start getting to know someone.

I’ve also considered therapy, but I wonder if this issue is actually "significant enough" to warrant it.