5 signs that you have a dating burnout
Suddenly you think: I have it. I know what I'm suffering from. I had that moment today when I was on the Psychology Today site and became familiar with the phenomenon of ‘dating burnout’. My surroundings have been pushing me for months to start dating again after that nasty break-up, but I just really don't feel like it. And why should I? I'd rather hang out with my cat on the couch. At least she doesn't disappoint me. And yes, before you might have thought you were dealing with a typical crazy cat lady, but that's not the case. You're dealing with someone who is in a serious dating burnout.
Do you suspect that you are also in a dating burnout? You can recognize it by these five signals.
1. You lose hope for true love
Yep, check. This can be due to your heart being too broken or because you've been on so many dates that were just really disappointing. It's not so strange that over time you start to believe that dating and love are just three times awful.
2. It affects your mental health
All aspects of your life impact how you feel. This absolutely applies to an intense romance that may not have ended very well. This can cause you to experience much more anxiety, seek refuge in alcohol or drugs, and reach a low point in your self-esteem. Also, many dates that led to nothing can lead to those same mental issues.
3. Taking care of yourself is not your priority
Maybe you feel pressure from your surroundings that you really need to start dating (more), while your mind is not in that place at all. But you do it anyway because you think it’s how it ‘should’ or ‘must’ be. As a result: you are not the most fun date yourself and you don't listen to your feelings, which is so important. And then you also feel guilty because you don't feel like it and you only disappoint yourself. That drains you and you end up in a vicious circle.
4. You find it hard to be rejected
This can also be due to your heart being broken or because your dates were not as successful as you had hoped. You start to think that it’s your fault and you are afraid that it might go the same way as when your heart was shattered into a thousand pieces. This extreme fear of rejection makes you think unclearly and you start to doubt your self-worth, how attractive you are, and whether you are a suitable partner. And while that is completely separate: rejection is sometimes just part of it.
5. You feel like you're in a rut
Because your mind is not in the dating game, you also find it hard to open up, so everyone you meet or go on a date with you have actually already written off in advance – because you are doing it on some sort of autopilot. And as long as you keep doing that, you are not only a very different version of yourself, but you also don't give others the chance to win your heart. No one will really impress you – because you don't allow it – and you also don't get any positive energy from it.
Source: Psychology Today
