[23/m] Reluctant to look for a relationship because I don't want to be cheated on

The closest I've been to a relationship was 2 years ago when I was dating a girl which I thought was the most perfect person I've ever met. We weren't even in a relationship at the time, but she ended up hooking up with someone else when we were on a trip in Berlin together. The experience absolutely ruined me, sort of PTSD like, and it's not until now that I can feel that I'm actually "over" her. I'm a very sensitive person, needless to say. But for me the pain is very real and it cripples me. I'm scared that a girl that I had known for only 2 months was able to turn my world upside down. I'm scared of how I would feel if we had a long-term relationship and she decided to cheat on me after a few years. I'm not sure if I could survive that. I was reading people's storied about being cheated on in r/survivinginfidelity just now, and it almost made me cry. I understand that cheating on your partner must be so human in a way, because it seems to happen all the time. (22% of all adults according to wikipedia).

I'm terrified. I rarely go on dates anymore and I avoid certain girls which I think will hurt me, but I'm also sick and tired of being alone and not experiencing true intimacy with another person.

How do I overcome this fear of being rejected and cheated on? How will I be able to handle it if someone ever cheats on me one day?

tl;dr: Terrified of being cheated on in a future relationship, but also tired of being alone. What do I do?

Posted Apr 26, 2017, 5:17 PM UTC

111
Loading comments…