:tup:If anybody has read the book called The Rules. It's pretty old but it gives some good advice to women when dating. NEVER, never, never open up and tell that person all your "stuff". It's not appropriate and like Jimmy-Joe said if you want to get involved with a predator, they will be able to identify you as prey if you open up too soon.
I went out with a guy from the internet that told me about all the crazy women. He told me about a woman that told him that she had a personality disorder the first time they met. He said she seemed normal but he never called her back because he didn't want to get involved with a "crazy" person. Well, if I wanted to diagnose this guy (who didn't think he had mental health issues) he was short and a meglamaniac (Napolean complex trying to compensate), had anger issues and blew up all the time and criticized just about everybody for being too fat (he was no slim person) and lazy (and he would take naps during the day??).
I think we are so aware and afraid of exposing our own defects that we can't see that we might be confessing PTSD to someone who is a serial killer!!! I'm sorry but it's true. We are aware of our illness. I see many, many people on the street with obesity, drinking problems, dead-beat dads, etc. I didn't before because I was so self critical of myself. I felt that everybody else was normal and I was crazy. Well, that's why I always say the only "normal" is a cycle on the washing machine. If that particular person that you meet seems normal, I would be absolutely positive that someone is in the immediate family has some serious issues.
Practice makes perfect. Try goiing out with men that you could care less if you went out with a second time. Practice with them so when you do meet someone you like, you know what you are doing. Just like a job interview?
Good luck and bang on you guys!!! I give you so much credit for getting out there and taking a risk! :tup:
