Hi All . . .
I've been gone from the site for a while. I began feeling really good and decided to try dating. It was rocky start at first. But got over that fairly soon - told myself to just date and begin feeling comfortable around men, have fun without expectations. That was back in January.
I met a fellow about six weeks ago whom I like a lot and I know he likes me. We sure have a lot of fun together, supportive of each other, and are able to talk openly. At first he side stepped my asking what type of work he did. On our third date I learned he was a mental health counselor and lobbyist, but he doesn't like telling someone he's interested in too soon what he does because it freaks some people out. I thought it was cool and quirky that I'd attract someone in his profession. It also freaked me out at first - concerned he'd always be interpting our relationship based on his professional knowledge. In other words, I wondered if he'd constantly try to fit me into some sort of classification of a person with a personality disorder and whether he always be showing his therapist side (supportive, validating, pushing me to make changes, etc.) and not his "real" self. Well, at that point I had to admit to him that I have PTSD. It was a great relief to be around someone who knows/understands it!!!
Long story short, I soon learned that like most people, when he leaves work it's behind him and he can be annoying just like everyone else, lol. He tells it as he sees it. He's very communicative and in touch with his emotions. Our only issue at this point (make that MY issue) is him giving me compliments and telling me he likes me . . . I got a lot of messages that were very opposit in my last relationship with the narcissist, so I tend to dismiss the nice things he says and go into an arguementative mode. Very weird.
Anyhoo, things are good overall. I'm learning how to be receptive . . . learning how to let love come in . . . to bask in the affection someone has towards me and (mostly) loving it. Still, I'm not going to get my hopes up too high for long term developments. Despite how well things are going in my life overall, I still think I'm too broken to be married again or even have a realtively long term relationship. I dunno - we'll see.
(((hugs))) to all who need and want them -
Drew
I've been gone from the site for a while. I began feeling really good and decided to try dating. It was rocky start at first. But got over that fairly soon - told myself to just date and begin feeling comfortable around men, have fun without expectations. That was back in January.
I met a fellow about six weeks ago whom I like a lot and I know he likes me. We sure have a lot of fun together, supportive of each other, and are able to talk openly. At first he side stepped my asking what type of work he did. On our third date I learned he was a mental health counselor and lobbyist, but he doesn't like telling someone he's interested in too soon what he does because it freaks some people out. I thought it was cool and quirky that I'd attract someone in his profession. It also freaked me out at first - concerned he'd always be interpting our relationship based on his professional knowledge. In other words, I wondered if he'd constantly try to fit me into some sort of classification of a person with a personality disorder and whether he always be showing his therapist side (supportive, validating, pushing me to make changes, etc.) and not his "real" self. Well, at that point I had to admit to him that I have PTSD. It was a great relief to be around someone who knows/understands it!!!
Long story short, I soon learned that like most people, when he leaves work it's behind him and he can be annoying just like everyone else, lol. He tells it as he sees it. He's very communicative and in touch with his emotions. Our only issue at this point (make that MY issue) is him giving me compliments and telling me he likes me . . . I got a lot of messages that were very opposit in my last relationship with the narcissist, so I tend to dismiss the nice things he says and go into an arguementative mode. Very weird.
Anyhoo, things are good overall. I'm learning how to be receptive . . . learning how to let love come in . . . to bask in the affection someone has towards me and (mostly) loving it. Still, I'm not going to get my hopes up too high for long term developments. Despite how well things are going in my life overall, I still think I'm too broken to be married again or even have a realtively long term relationship. I dunno - we'll see.
(((hugs))) to all who need and want them -
Drew
