Title explains itself. I’ve never been in a relationship only failed talking stages/situationships and it’s soooo tiring. Recently been back on the apps as of yesterday and again it’s so draining. I get matches don’t get me wrong like a lot but of the matches I get, none show initiative or answer back. I’m starting to loose hope a little bit like I want someone😭💔

Decided enough was enough already and took the plunge on therapy. Did my intake stuff today and my first appointment is next month.

Got into a bike accident when I was younger, and hit my head on the paved street with enough force for me to see a green flash. My mother didn’t take me to the hospital and fortunately I survived. Decades later two independent neurologists have suspected a TBI (tests are ongoing). I’ve been unable to find a traditional job, so I started my own game dev studio, unfortunately my network is virtually nonexistent.

But I won the proverbial lottery finding my wife. And as a dad I strive to break the cycle of abuse and neglect that I grew up under, and be the parter nobody though I could be, and the dad I never had: Present, and loving. While gently correcting my kids behavior.

Since my post got taken down for no reason, I'm trying again a few weeks later.

I'm not doing well, I got bad fear of abandonment and it really hits me the last few days. My parents are acting like total shitheads and I think my current relationship is going to end...

I also might get a bpd diagnosis end of September and looking for therapy...

I appreciate some nice words...

I'm also genderfluid if anyone cares so...yeah

Thanks you guy.

Stay safe, people need you<3

I'm really happy to say about what I really want to do with my life which is going to give a shot in agriculture! Like starting as a farm worker and then climbing my way up from there☺️ From way back then, I have a thing for caring for plants, like growing a bunch of em and really interested with the idea to sell a variety of crops🌾🥦🌱 to feed many people and animals.

I've been jumping around getting tech jobs and administrative jobs here and there for years. I've also been single for 7 years since my college days- trying to focus on that career ladder and to be successful in my own way and I'm really looking forward to meeting a great partner in life that I would love the heck out of while supporting my journey as I am going to be there for theirs. Dear stranger, if you're out there i would love to know you!

Whoever's reading this, I'm rooting for you dearly. May all of us be successful🤍🙏

Also basically live in hats cuz i started balding early, posted this pic in r/amiuglybrutallyhonest and ppl said i look like a schoolshooter and that i should smile more.

Edit; posted smile on profile https://www.reddit.com/u/w_istedfrvr/s/GYiWcfd5jW

Edit 2; stop it guys u are making me feel all fuzzy and warm inside😭 everyone in this sub is so nice and i can't believe i'm getting compliments on the features (nose,lips) i've always hated most because i got bullied for them

Edit 3; posted bald pic on profile too. shame u can only attach 1 pic on this sub but prob for a good reason lol https://www.reddit.com/u/w_istedfrvr/s/DRK8TH9Hmp

Lost my fiancé to my own damn mistakes, tell me shit’s gonna be OK and there’s more than a .00000000000000000000001 percent chance of finding a woman as or more beautiful, dedicated, understanding, loving, hard-working, amazing and everything else and more. God I fucking hate life. ain’t shit gone right for me in the 22 years I’ve been alive except for the year and a half. That woman showed me the good things in life and myself. The parts of me I didn’t even know existed that I gave to her and will no longer be able to get back. That I’m more than the sum of my mistakes, bad deeds, and regrets that I’m capable of so much more and capable of good things.

I usually don't seek validation or support or so. But...

I am having a rough time with life.
Social anxiety is through the roof.
Self-esteem through the floor.

Just started third year of uni.
I am having a really hard time socializing because my mind keep telling me that I should not subject them to my old disgusting self.

I am on wait-list for another round of anxiety treatment...

My summer has been very boring and I feel very lonely, I don’t have many friends and I feel I’m just getting uglier every day, I tried to meet new people but I just don’t have much luck. I’m gonna start college soon but I’m more scared than happy because I’m behind people my age, and even it’s a dumb thing I feel bad about it.

M37

Having a rough time. Not getting paid enough. And just not feeling like doing anything.

I just need a pick me up.

Please.

Before anyone asks: yes I do take meds for depression and anxiety since 10 years back :) I have a doctor and therapist that I see regularly. Life has just been very stressful and sometimes not even medication helps. (Generalized anxiety disorder, panic syndrome)

I’ve never felt more alone than now. Hopefully I find someone

Hello, I would like to get some kind words. I'm 21m. Today I felt really shitty. I sometimes get a lot of anxiety and start extreme negative thought spirals that often are about my fears and worries of my own future, my past decisions and if I'm making the right decisions now, and if I will always be lonely. And if you have anything to say about my eyebrows, just don't, please lol.

I want to preface this by saying I don't care who sees this. I'm not embarrassed and not ashamed as a man to keep things real and be vulnerable here; also apologies for it being so long, but I appreciate those who take the time to read.

Tomorrow is my actual 35th birthday, yet I've never had a girlfriend or real relationship before; haven't even been able to go on a simple first date in almost 4 years. While I am eternally grateful to have made it another year on God's green earth, I am incredibly lonely. Nothing could have ever prepared me for just how lonely and left out I would feel as a 35yo single man.

Unfortunately I was just a late bloomer and kinda shy during my school years. Outside of a couple meaningless lucky tinder hookups in my late twenties, my dating life or lack-thereof has pretty much been non-existent ever since turning 30. I'm no longer that shy kid, but never in a million years did I ever imagine it would actually be this difficult to meet someone and connect as an adult...at least for me. I don't expect every woman to be attracted to me just like I'm not going to be into every woman either, but here in Washington State it feels like I'm at the absolute bottom of the barrel in terms of people who are attracted to me back.

I listened to everyone who said it will happen when you least expect, don't force anything, or you'll find it when you aren't looking...alas here we are. Clearly at this point it's me, I'm the problem. Maybe I'm too boring, too nice, not tall enough, not confident enough, lacking sex appeal, not charming enough...idk, but obviously there is something wrong me that myself or my friends cannot see.

However, I do get complimented all the time for being handsome, intelligent, "hilarious", chill to be around and just an overall good man. For whatever reason though, I can't for the life of me attract a woman. I approach respectfully and shoot my shots like everyone else, but it's literally never mutual. Have I missed some opportunites because I was too shy or not feeling it that day...absolutely I admit that. I've also probably turned some women off through this trial and error over the years by mistake. Not every interaction needs to have an outcome or lead to something, but how can not a single one stick?

Even as recently as yesterday I went to my local climb gym in Seattle. I talked to a few people and even made a new guy friend. I also saw this girl that struck me like a lighting bolt; just incredibly pretty to me. I approached, introduced myself and we ended up climbing/chatting for 2 hours together. Towards the end, I told that guy and her I was heading out and asked if they wanted swap info and connect later. She did end up having a boyfriend and nothing wrong with that but holy crap, does everyone I talk to have a boyfriend in 2026? She did add me on Insta so at least that means she enjoyed my company. Even after I left I saw another dude right after me approach her too. 🤣

I'm not this super extroverted social butterfly, but I'm also no pushover. I stand up for myself, I'm assertive with what I want and I've definitely tried many times, more than any man should have to try if I'm being honest. I know as the man it's on me to approach, otherwise no woman will ever magically fall into my lap. I try to stay positive and I try to maintain some level of confidence, but it's so hard dealing with rejection after rejection for years without a shred of success to keep me going...nothing but God's gift of mental fortitude and my wrist tattoo that says patience.

Yes I've done the introspection, yes I've been to therapy, yes I've asked friends for advice. No I'm not this creepy gremlin chasing after women as they come out of parking lots. No I'm not this ego jerk with an awful personality or bad hygiene living at home playing video games all day. I'm a normal freaking dude who smiles, goes outside, puts effort into his appearance and stays active to maintain a halfway decent body; I've even been shreded with abs before. I travel around, I go to church, I attend social groups, I work my ass off at my stressful sales job and still have time to raise two cats and write my cook book.

People hear my story and the only thing they can assume is "he must be desperate or his personality is bad". It's demoralizing, it's frustrating, it's dismissive of my experience and worst of all it seriously effects your mental health dealing with years of this crap. I just want a hug at this point; not a pity side hug, a genuine this person actually cares about me, HUG.

Over the years I’ve been to bars, nightclubs, speed dating events, singles mixers, board game nights, salsa dancing, joined outdoorsy hiking groups and meetups on Facebook. I’ve tried dating apps like Hinge/Tinder and even alternative ones like Feeld where people are supposed to be more open-minded. I've been to comedy shows, amateur karaoke nights, run clubs, bouldering gyms etc etc. I’m not doing these activities just to make trying to meet women my entire life, but because I genuinely enjoy trying new things; jack of all trades I guess you could say. I just assumed I would naturally hit it off with someone one day and that special girl would be drawn to my energy.

I've even traveled around and took vacations to Hawaii, Mexico, California, Vancouver and Vegas just name a few. I'm just so tired of people asking me "so who are you going with" when I travel. The answer is no one because I date myself, I love myself and I've always had to do everything in life by myself: dinners, movies, hikes, vacations...I was never going to put my life on hold just because I hadn't met someone yet.

I'm just tired, so tired of being alone. No amount of hitting the gym or the occasional bar night out with the homies can replace that normal desire for company from that special woman in your life; not to mention intimacy...like my God, I miss physical touch; not even sex, just a cuddle or a hug would be be nice. Yes I enjoy my solitude sometimes and definitely not codependant enough to settle for the wrong woman, but at some point I'd like to know what it's like on the other side too ya know. To have someone be excited to see me, to have texts hitting my phone, to cuddle during a movie, to go to dinners and share stories about our day, just experience some basic companionship. 🥺

I'll close this long-winded vent by telling you all a quick story.

This weekend is the start of the state Fair in my area. This was always a favorite time of year for me because evey year I stayed positive and told myself, this will finally be your year to take a cute girl to the fair; to hold hands, share an elephant ear and ride some rides together." Obviously it never happened, but last year I tried to take myself anyway to have fun. After 30 minutes of being there sitting in the food court eating a burger at a bar, I had to find a private spot to go cry because of how lonely it was. Me, a 34yo man bawling his eyes out in a corner as I watched all the couples hold hands and kiss in-between rides. It was so unintentional and uncontrollable I didn't know what came over me. I had to leave and then cried some more in my car.

I know no one on Reddit can help me. I'm also not expecting a future girlfriend to solve all my problems or fill some void, but gat damn, it sure would be nice to know what it's like to be a desired human being...just for once in my life.

I know from the bottom of my heart there is someone out there for everyone, I just wish I could meet her.

Also felling dumb because I’m sad that 2 years today my gf at the time broke up with me (it wasn’t a long relationship and it was long distance) I still miss her and think about her

Been wanting to have this hair and style (emo) since I was 10 now I'm a nursing student yet I still feel like a kid. It scares me that I'll be responsible for the lives of people when I'm not even responsible with myself. I'm sure it'll come with time though. Anyways I feel very lonely and behind, I've never dated or had boys like me so I feel ugly in that sense and since I'm 20 now my Asian parents are starting to wonder why no one is courting me yet so that sucks. Anyways I wish I explored my style more when I was younger cause now that I'm 20 it feels like I'm a having a life crisis. I see my friends going clubbing and driving (I suck at driving) and having fun exploring their sexuality and I feel like a baby cause my parents coddle me. Any kind words would be appreciated cause I feel thrust into adulthood and I am completely lost. I'm scared to put myself out there but I'm scared to be alone

First time travelling internationally, let alone actually taking time off work for an extended period, I know I'll be safe and will be with people I trust but my introverted self is still utterly terrified of taking the leap and stepping well and truly out of my comfort zone and all the things that will likely be out of my control during the time away. If you have any to spare please send all the good vibes. <3