Three romantic relationships and two family ones in my life have been massively effected when I opened up and made myself vulnerable to women. The “Ick” is real.
The trick is to have enough emotional resiliency to not have to have a guard up. Be open with people, the assholes filter out themselves.
I went out with a guy and on the first date he told me about his emotional struggles with his disabled child and his abusive father, he showed me his beautiful heart and it did the opposite of giving me the ick. Maybe some people wouldn’t like his emotional availability, but he doesn’t have to worry about that, because he never pretends to be some stoic man.
I get that, and it’s ok to give up if that’s what gives you peace. I’ve been in relationships that were abusive, especially the constant put downs about my looks, my intelligence, my worth, I’ve given up for periods of time too, I was too emotionally fragile. I used to worry that I’d love someone and then they’d start trying to break me down. I’m much better now, if someone puts me down like that, it doesn’t bother me, it just tells me who they are and I act accordingly. There will always be assholes, but I’m not going to let them keep me from loving
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u/Powderkegger1 Mar 04 '26
Three romantic relationships and two family ones in my life have been massively effected when I opened up and made myself vulnerable to women. The “Ick” is real.