I said I wouldn’t sign up to a dating app. I didn’t like the idea of being so disposable. That someone judges you based on your appearance and if you’re lucky, a short description of yourself. Then within a few seconds you can be swiped past, just like that. But this particular Sunday afternoon I was feeling brave. I felt like I was ready to open myself up to possibilities.

Watch: There are common mindsets women have towards dating when coming out of a toxic relationship or divorce. Post continues after video.

It took me hours to choose a good collection of pictures that portrayed different versions of me. Fun me, laidback me, everyday me. Then to write a cute little snapshot of who I was. 

‘Fun-loving mum of three kids. Going out for cocktails with friends or reading a book in the sun, equally bring me joy.’

Then I just had to figure out how to use the app and swipe the right way for the right people, which was nerve-wracking in itself! After a few wrong swipes, I got the hang of it and started matching with a few guys and I attempted to chat. I even Googled how to start a conversation in a fun and flirty way! But boy it’s BRUTAL out there, people! 

Just because you matched with someone doesn’t necessarily mean they WANT to chat to you, which kinda threw me. Isn’t that the whole point of being on a dating app? I was confused. But I persisted. After a while, I started chatting to a few different people and one particular guy I was really drawn to. He looked kind and handsome plus he had taken the time to write a good bio (a lot don’t even bother).

So, we started chatting. The conversation was easy. He was funny and cheeky and wasn’t afraid to ask the hard questions. And I liked that. A few weeks after chatting, we arranged to meet, and I was so relieved that the connection transferred from online to face-to-face. In my eyes, it was the perfect date. He was attentive, that was the thing that stood out the most. He gave me his undivided attention and wasn’t distracted by anything or anyone. The conversation flowed, and I felt calm with him. And for someone who has ADHD and can feel chaotic, often, it was a really nice feeling to have with someone.

I liked him. The problem with liking someone is that you expose yourself. You become vulnerable. And for me, opening myself up to someone new put me in this fight-or-flight mode, where I became hypervigilant to any potential red flags.

I was 22 the last time I was single. And 17 years later, I’m a whole other person with a lot of baggage!

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After only a couple of dates with him, I found myself looking for faults and incompatibilities in the little things. The things he would say and do triggered me and I was comparing him to my ex-husband. I was overthinking ALL of it. I was terrified I would miss the red flags, that I would repeat the same patterns. I was also looking for validation really early on. So instead of just getting to know him and having fun, I was all in my head and I realised I had to “unlearn” a whole heap of habits that I had adopted being in a long-term relationship. A long-term relationship that I hadn’t been happy in.

Kindness Porn What Grinds Our Gears

I spoke to a friend about all the things I was concerned about moving forward with him and she pointed out a few hard truths which were hard to digest. She told me that my high expectations were getting in the way. That I can’t be judging the little things so early on. That we’re both coming into this with some kind of past hurt and I needed to be patient and bring myself down from the chaotic, hypervigilant mode I had found myself in.

It had even started affecting my sleep, and when discussing it with my psychologist, she told me that after my marriage breakup, I was desperate for safety and connection. That these are the two most basic human needs, and I wanted those needs met more than anything. And so while searching for that connection, my senses were heightened. I was taking in all of this information while I was with him, and then at night my brain was processing all of this information to try to decide if I was safe in this connection. Because that’s what our brain’s job is right, to keep us safe?

Listen to Restart where we look at how women can restart their sex lives and their relationships – whether they’re in a long-term relationship or starting again. Post continues after podcast.

Every time I reacted to something this guy said or did, I became aware of it free engineer chat triggering me and I would explain to him why I reacted the way I did. I was being vulnerable in a way I never had been before, and it was scary. Every time this happened he met me with acceptance. He wouldn’t judge me or make me feel bad for it. He validated how I felt, and maybe even challenged my perspective in order for me to grow from the experience. Which both surprised and impressed me. Because I did it more than once, and one particular conversation I was completely irrational and just blurted out everything that was in my head, which was A LOT!!

Unfortunately, in the end things got a little complicated, and we went our so grateful that I eased back into dating with someone who was patient and kind with me. I think I was more fragile than I thought I was. If he hadn’t been so gentle, I think it may have broken me, but instead, it forged growth. I know everyone isn’t so lucky. Because it really is rough out there in the dating world. Especially when you are entering unchartered waters after being in a long-term relationship, after navigating motherhood and trying to find who you are again. You really do need to ease back into it gently.

I’m grateful I met someone who helped me learn more about myself and helped me heal wounds I didn’t know I even had. He changed me in such a short period of time, and made me feel hopeful again, and for that I thank him.

I think I’ll give up on the dating apps for the moment, maybe forever. I don’t think I’m quite cut out for the brutality! I’m a bit old school. I want to meet someone, have an instant connection and see where that takes me. Who knows how long that will take, but my heart is open.