Struggling with Dating: How to Overcome the First Few Dates

Just a couple of thoughts that might help you. The word date adds a particular tension to get togethers. Have you tried doing things in groups where nothing is expected of you other than to be there and participate in activities or whatever is going on. It's a good way to meet people see them and get to know them without any expectation of you (other than to be polite). There a meetup groups of pretty much strangers who get together over shared interests like astronomy hiking traveling those kind of things. There's no expectation of friendships but they happen the only expectation is that they're going to do their particular interest with other people who have similar interests. So in that kind of an environment you can do or get together repeatedly and know if you really like someone or not. By that time you're both comfortable with each other and the attraction has been natural instead of forced or imitated

Im 22 as well, been in a relationship for 5 years. Do you shut down because you're inviting a person into this "space" behind your mask? Are you are so used to wearing it that you don't know yourself and thoughts intimately enough to share it with another person you've invited in? In front and behind of the mask is like stepping into a stick vs automatic, thinking and shining bright as your true self is a hard when you've repressed it so long and never learned. It could be feeling of unworthiness, maybe fear of abandonment as well. Letting people means being attatched so you could actually have a fear of attachment as well. You shouldn't change how you are for anyone but yourself. There are 8 billion people in this world and people end up marring people from down the street, its bonkers. Love is like a butterfly, you can't chase it. You have to put yourself "out there" in the middle of a meadow and wait for one to land. The world is so huge, I recommend growing into the best version of yourself and someone else on the same journey will cross paths with you one day. The moment that anyone's crossed your path has been culminating and leading up to that moment from the very day you were born. There is definitely someone in the 8 billion people out there that will love you exactly for who you are. I wish you the best and much love ❤️💕💕