When I like someone, I start feeling really insecure.

It's strange, but whenever I develop genuine feelings for someone, I become incredibly self-critical. I'll think things like, "He'd never like me back, be realistic," or "He'd probably prefer other girls who are thinner and more outgoing." This leads to a cycle of comparing myself to other women, which is awful. It sometimes made me act strangely around them even when we were just friends.

They'd ask if something was wrong, and I'd always brush it off, saying I was fine. But really, I liked them so much that I felt stupid and embarrassed, as if confessing my feelings would make me a joke to a close friend. It's a toxic pattern I can't seem to break. The moment I realized I had feelings for someone, it took me weeks to process because I just knew it was destined not to work out.