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Dating post divorce - How can I avoid feeling used?

User Profile: neatPeach883
neatPeach883 April 21st, 2017

I will cut a long story as short as I can but any advice and thoughts appreciated. x

March 2016 - separate from my husband of 10 years. My decision. We had drifted too far apart.

July/August 2016 - Investigate dating apps after a friend recommended. Contended with the usual people out there then met a guy who seemed different. We agreed to go on a date and got on really well. Arranged a second date a week later. Again this went really well. Third date also good. Then I went away on holiday for 2 weeks. When I got back he had changed. We still had a good date and spent the night together. A week later he told me had met someone else he 'had more in common with'. I didn't hear from him again. I felt used and sad.

Sept 2016 - I wasn't looking for to date but met a great guy. He was also out of a LTR of 6 years. We met for a drink and got on great. We agreed to meet again a few weeks later (taking it slower this time). The week before we were to go out again he told me that he had realised he wasn't ready to date yet and didn't want to string me along. We agreed to remain friends.

December 2016 - out of the blue I get a text from him asking if I would like to meet up. I agreed. Again we had another great night and I ended up spending the night at his. We parted on good terms and agreed to keep in touch. I was always the one to initiate texts but he always replied. He suggested a date to meet but I couldn't make it. We agreed on another date a week later.

January 2017 - Two days before this he asked for a raincheck due to a family issue. I agreed. He said it would be the end of the month before he could meet again. Foolishly, again I agreed. 3 weeks later I discovered we would be in the same city one night so asked if he wanted to meet for a drink and he said he couldn't. Then that night he messaged me to say he now could. Unfortunately I already had plans now in place so apologised and offered other options. The next day he admitted he had stayed over in the city with someone else. I asked him to be blunt and tell me what page he was on. He then admitted he wasn't looking for anything serious but still wanted to get to know me, just not be in a relationship. I haven't heard from him again.

April 2017 - I am still hooked up on this guy and this situation. I know I should move on but don't know how to rid him from my head. I have tried dating others but this isn't making me happy.

I guess I feel foolish for not seeing all the red flags and I feel used by both of these guys (though I still stand b y the fact that I don't think they deliberately tried to hurt me) and so hurt by everything I have gone through in the last year.

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