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Is it really that rare to have never experienced true love at a very young age?

Sorry, this is a long one. You can skip to the last paragraph if you'd like, but the rest gives context.

I mean, I've only dated two people, and my last relationship ended nearly a decade ago. I stopped dating by choice, because it was then that I realized I was asexual (and a sex-repulsed one at that), and that I really didn't desire anything that separated a romantic relationship from a strong friendship. I absolutely understand that this isn't the norm, but it's how I was made.

So, I dated from ages 16 to 20. Neither relationship was anything special at all, and looking back, I never really felt "in love," nor did I feel loved. At the time, I thought I loved them because I cared about them as people and enjoyed spending time with them, but it was no more than I care about and enjoy any other close friend I've had. There was zero difference for me.

My experience with "young love" was honestly that the two guys I dated were more worried about what other people thought than anything else, were busy showing off (often at my expense; both loved to make fun of me and say cruel things about me in front of their friends), didn't really care how they affected me, and nothing felt like love at all. If I'm being honest, I was never truly attracted to either one of them and just tried to convince myself I was, because at the time I thought dating was just something you did and the feelings developed over time, and to be honest, I also had such low confidence that I thought I had to take what I could get. I think these guys chose me because we were already in the same friend group and I was the "safe choice."

There were times I did experience some sort of attraction, but it was not sexual, and it was very rare. I'm sure that sounds strange, but I've never had any sexual urges in my life, and I never thought about others in a sexual way. I did experience the butterflies and nervousness of a crush, but I daydreamed about conversations we'd have and time spent together. I never had sexual fantasies. Of course, the few times this happened, I kept it to myself and on the one occasion one found out, he did not reciprocate, so I've never experienced mutual attraction, even. The last time I felt any form of attraction was clear back in high school, nearly 11 years ago.

Anyway, I've talked to a lot of people over the years who don't seem to be very reminiscent of teen/young love and it's less common to see those relationships last long term, so I was always under the assumption that it was sort of a hit or miss thing. However, I recently talked to someone who strongly feels otherwise, that it is exactly like the movies, and that anyone who didn't experience it is hugely missing out on a crucial part of life. I've heard something similar about prom ("prom is one of the biggest/most important nights of your life") and do not feel that way at all after having attended both my junior an senior proms and them both being pretty forgettable compared to the rest of my life, but I have very limited experience on this other matter to really say one way or the other. To be honest, I'm not sure if I'm even capable of experiencing true romantic love at all due to the nature of how I am, and I'm okay with that, because I've come to terms with the fact that I'm very different in that regard. However, I'm curious as to others' perspectives on this. What do you think? Is it really that uncommon to have not experienced strong, genuine, movie-like young love, especially as a teen? Even if it wasn't for the same reasons as me?
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Dainbramadge · 56-60, M
This kind of thing is why I like this site so much.
I mean, where else could you ask such a delicate, or seems to be, question and get the answers you have already gotten?
Not sure how quick I can make this but I will try. So if it turns out feeling convoluted I should have tried to make it a little longer.

I had a horrible childhood.
Never felt any kind of validation, ever.
But that didn't keep me from seeking it endlessly.
So I was primed to have endless meaningless relationships being desperate for that kind of connection.
I thought I was in love a million times and died a thousand deaths every time a relationship ended.
Finally, at the age of 32 I finally found true love. She was a true unicorn. Something so perfect that it couldn't possibly really exist.
That only lasted for 10 years and three prefect children.
Sadly, after her, I have no want or need to find another relationship because I had the privilege of experiencing what my life lacked for so long and no one could ever be able to toe that line again.
So, what I think I want to convey to you is everything happens in time.
When it is the right time for you I am sure you will have a meaningful change of heart.
You are in the right mindset being open to it and not jumping at every opportunity to find "The one".
In order to be a good mate and experience true fulfilling love I think you have to understand yourself and know what you are willing and able to give another person.
Because what I did learn was love is about what you give to another not so much what you receive.
When you have kids is when that one becomes abundantly clear.
So since I haven't deleted this yet I might as well clue you into another thing I learned that may help.
Life has a way of leading you to think that things are one way, often, when in fact they are the opposite. Most times, at least in relationships, when you are the most lost and clueless the answer is exactly the opposite of what life has been telling you.
Hope this made sense. :-)
CrazyMusicLover · 31-35
People who claim all those things about young love and prom do a huge disservice to teenagers who are full of hormones and romantic ideals but for some reason can't experience it, above all to those who feel unwanted.

I only ever had that young love in my life, as a teenager. It was nice, it was sweet, I'm glad it happened but the world wouldn't end if I didn't have it. Since then, I never dated because I was disinterested in being in a sexual role as a woman. It's not that I would have had bad experiences in that relationship but I became aware of my kinks and there was no way back. I felt like that throughout my 20s and was hypersexual. Then it started to disappear and now in my 30s, I'm almost asexual. So from one extreme into another.

Bodies work in a mysterious way and nobody can tell you when you should experience love, how your relationship should be etc. Everyone has their own journey.
Miram · 31-35, F
I identified as asexual until my late twenties, and sapiosexual because I only experienced attraction towards people based on perceived levels of intelligence. And then my experiences expanded and I could dwell on romance.

I am in commited relationship now with someone I am attracted to and madly in love with. Sexuality is something that grows and changes. There is no point in excessively limiting your life to its lack or presence. People who think it is the ultimate life goal for EVERYONE are just small minded. Life is about whatever you wish to make it.
BnBSpringer09 · 26-30, F
@Miram Thank you! I'm turning 30 this year and have still never felt any sexual urges and I still feel sex-repulsed, but I'm open to the idea that that may change. I'm just currently not dating because it doesn't align with my life and what I'm wanting currently, but as much as I've changed over the past decade+, I know better than to say never!
Miram · 31-35, F
@BnBSpringer09 You are not missing on life. You will be okay and you are already doing your best ❤
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BnBSpringer09 · 26-30, F
@SomeMichGuy I've just simply never felt any sexual urges at all. Never had one to begin with. TBH, because I had nothing to compare it to, I didn't stop to analyze and realize that the way I experienced "crushes" and my lack of interest in sex were unusual until my early 20s. I thought I just needed more time and wasn't ready, but I'm turning 30 soon and nothing has changed in that regard. I've always been disturbed by and found anything involving nudity and sex to gross me out, and I've never found anything attractive about it. When people have asked what turns me on, I have no idea what to tell them, because I've never experienced that. Just a great deal of affection and admiration for someone. At this point, I think it's probably my orientation. I tried to change it in the past, but it did nothing but make me extremely anxious and nervous about it. I finally came to the conclusion that it's very likely to be the way I'm wired, just like some people are gay, bisexual, etc. I'm just asexual.
It is absurd that true love is the one you experience during young age. You are absolutely right and honest about your feelings, while most pretend to be in love just for vanity and peer pressure. It just becomes a social status to possess a bf or gf. The person who you say "strongly beleives" which also means the person has no experience and hence no knowledge, reason for such a belief.

No, it is not uncommon as teen love is nothing but hyped infatuation, basically due to movies and romance novels. So they just connect with the one they connect with and call it LOVE.
Captain · 61-69, M
I think its rare - but honest love at a young age is common. Thye know its not going to last but its better than not experiencing anything - well I know the second parts right !
GoFish ·
Everyone's life is different and people experience things at different ages .. it's not the same for everyone..
Bcrichwarlock705 · 31-35, M
Let me ask you this .... Is it just sex you don't want or is it like masturbation and everything that is sexual in any way?
BnBSpringer09 · 26-30, F
@Bcrichwarlock705 All of it.
Bcrichwarlock705 · 31-35, M
@BnBSpringer09 fascinating!

 
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