Dating Articles

Medically Reviewed By: Aaron Horn, LMFT, MA

Dating

Dating is a special part of our lives. It is a time when we are looking for someone to settle down and spend the rest of our lives with. Sometimes, people date casually. They find satisfaction in being intimate with somebody. Alternatively, people date to have fun. Human beings are social creatures, and we want to feel loved, which is why we date other people. People of all genders and sexualities go on dates. Some people are monogamous, whereas others are not. Regardless, we date to find human connection, and it is a typical part of life for the vast majority of us.

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Romance

Some people love the idea of being courted. In the olden days, people worked hard to court others and prove their love. One person made the other feel desirable by working hard to get their attention. Perhaps, they bought them flowers or wrote them poetry. That is how dating, or courting, used to be. In modern times, dating has become more casual. Often, people meet others online through apps like Tinder or on websites like Match.com. Perhaps, you'll even meet someone on a classifieds forum, like Craigslist. Dating has become very technology-oriented. Many people meet their spouse or partner on the internet or while using a Smartphone app. 

Dating Troubles

Sometimes, it’s hard to find love. Dating can feel stressful. Maybe, you are busy because you have a highly demanding career. Or, perhaps you are a single mother, and it’s hard to get back out there and start dating again. It can be very overwhelming - maybe you just got divorced and you are worried about getting back into the dating pool. Maybe, you are the survivor of an abusive relationship, and you are afraid that you will fall back into that pattern. You could have a history with co-dependent relationships or a former spouse that was an alcoholic. As a result of that, you might fear that you will enter a relationship with another addict. There are a lot of stressors affiliated with dating, but if you want to meet somebody, it’s important to get out there. If you don’t put yourself out there, you won’t have the chance of finding love.

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Why Date?

Having a human connection is important. Dating is a way to find someone that you connect with and can share tender moments. Dates can be an adventure! You can go to the movies, try new restaurants, or go rock-climbing. One thing about dating that can be super fun is that the person that you go on a date with doesn’t need to be the same as you. The expression “opposites attract” is something that makes sense because we learn from other people. If we were all the same, life wouldn’t be half as interesting, and neither would dating. When you date, you have an opportunity to learn about people and find attributes that you appreciate in a partner. When dating, some people prefer to date one person at a time, and some prefer to date multiple people. Some people are dating to see who is out there and some are looking to find someone to settle down with. There’s no wrong reason to date, but it’s important to be transparent about what you want with your partner.

Infidelity

One of the most significant problems that people talk about in a therapeutic setting is cheating or infidelity. In a healthy relationship, partners trust each other. If one partner cheats on the other, the trust is broken, which makes it difficult to amend the relationship. Don’t assume anything on your own. Communication is the backbone of every healthy relationship. Talk to your partner and ask them if you are exclusive to one another or if you have the freedom to date other people. It can be a hard conversation, but it is a crucial one.

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Online Counseling

Online counseling is an excellent place to discuss your dating life. We mentioned that getting back into the dating world can be a challenging especially after a divorce or a bad breakup. That’s something that you can work through in an online counseling setting. You might also find it helpful to talk about how online dating is a challenge for you. An online counselor will understand, and they are experienced in helping people navigate their romantic lives. Whether you are talking about problems with infidelity or issues getting out there and trying to find love, an online counselor is someone that you can trust to help you. Search through our network of experienced mental health professionals and online counselors at BetterHelp and find someone that you can trust to help you navigate your love life.