What helps you not put too much pressure on dating?

I simply don't date, b/c I feel SO much PRESSURE. I feel I am not enough (I am working on it a lot). When you have PtSD plus an anxiety disorder that is a good part of your life, you don't exactly feel like men are going to jump to be with you. :( But, it also sucks NEVER, ever dating b/c of it. How can I just look at dating as not so serious and keep overthinking how a guy may leave me? I just want to feel relaxed and look at it as just a fun night, but it is so hard to do b/c I don't know if a guy wants something serious. I need to go slow, and I know many don't. HELP

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HootyTheNightOwl Best Comment

Stop with the outlook of dating.

Start off with finding yourself some male friends - preferably ones that you share some common ground with... maybe you both like cookery or whatever???

Then you keep working on getting to know each other and doing things together as friends - no pressure or anything, he's no different from your bff aside from the gender. That should help you to calm yourself down and stop with the overthinking.

When it feels right and you're both comfortable, then you can look into dating... but your first step has to be about building friendships with guys first. A relationship is just a more serious friendship, after all.