I'm 39 but look around 25–26. Anyone else have this problem with dating?

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I'm a 39 year-old guy, but people regularly assume I'm around 25 or 26. It's not just friends even strangers are surprised when they learn my real age.

The problem is that when I date women around my age, many of them look noticeably older than I do. I know everyone ages differently, and I'm not saying that's a bad thing. It's just that the visible age gap makes it hard for me to feel like we're a good match.

On the other hand, women in their mid-to-late 20s often assume I'm their age until they find out I'm 39.

I sometimes feel stuck between two worlds, and it's honestly been affecting my confidence and making me feel pretty depressed.

Has anyone else experienced something similar? How did you handle it? Did you end up dating someone younger, someone your age, or did you just stop worrying about appearances altogether?

I'm genuinely interested in hearing different perspectives.