How to deal with post first date anxiety?

Hi all!

Let me make the long backstory short: Got cheated on a year and a few months ago with my first ever real partner; tried to do the whole dating thing around Thursday, dated someone for about a month, had my first kiss with them, and they broke up with me the day after.

Anyway, I'm back trying to date again, and have been on a couple of first dates over the past couple weeks. Most have been okay, but nothing crazy; pleasant times but I haven't felt that spark.

Well, I had one today with a girl (I'm bi; she's the first girl I've ever been on a date with, too) and ABSOLUTELY felt those feelings. Like, those little flutters. We had a good time (I think): A coffee shop date that lasted a little over four hours.

I'd love to ask this person on a second date, but I also want to wait a bit so I don't seem pushy, and I'm just overthinking EVERYTHING right now.

Any advice for how to... just chill out a bit?

And, y'know, please be kind to me if I sound neurotic or crazy; getting back into the dating scene has been both a really hard and really scary part of my emotional healing, so just, yknow, don't make fun of me if this sounds silly.

Posted Jul 25, 2026, 11:37 PM UTC

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