Excerpt:
Take your time
There was a time when you found yourself opening up on the first date, but now after a few heartbreaks or failed relationships, you’ve built impenetrable walls. Sound familiar? Los Angeles-based psychologist Dr. Yvonne Thomas, PhD, says this is a common symptom of dating PTSD. Dating anxiety, aka the fear of rejection or being hurt again, can prevent you from forming emotional attachments, so Dr. Thomas suggests giving yourself the time you need to feel comfortable in a new relationship. The right match won’t rush you and will be patient as you start to let your guard down.
“If you both can be vulnerable and share concerns and feelings with each other slowly but surely, these actions can help in building the trust and emotional security necessary to accept a good relationship,” Dr. Thomas adds.
Try not to compare experiences
“Consciously try to give a new person a fair chance and an adequate amount of time to show you who he or she genuinely is through both their words and actions,” Dr. Thomas explains. “If you have been hurt in past relationships, it is very important and emotionally comforting if someone new is and remains consistent and stable with both their words and actions.”
Yvonne Thomas is a Psychologist in Los Angeles. To read the full article “5 Ways To Heal Your Heart From Dating PTSD“, visit glam.com