Dating Anxiety
The first date is one of the most important events in
the relationships of many couples. As important as this occasion is, it is also
a very nerve-racking experience to go out with someone you have just met, or just
decided to date. Perhaps the fact that this one significant date can
potentially become the beginning of a lifelong relationship is why this first
date is such an important occurrence. Whatever the reason that the first date
is so major, there are many reasons that there is
pressure on the first date. The first date is so demanding because it either
leads to the occurrence or non-occurrence of the second date. Many people are
shy and dating is difficult. If you have just come out of a serious relationship,
there is pressure to get right back into a serious relationship.
One of the reasons that the first date is so anxiety
filled is that the chances of a second date rest almost solely on what happens
on the first date. If the first date is terrible and things go wrong, or the
person you have asked out is bored where you take them, or if something is said
or done that is offensive, it is difficult to get passed that first bad
impression that is left by the first date. Whatever the reason for the date ending
in disaster, most of the time, it does not matter whether the problem was
intentionally caused or not. They always say that you only have one chance to
make a first impression. This is often true in cases of disastrous first dates.
One way you can help prevent this is to plan everything ahead of time. The less that can go wrong that is under your control, the better.
Another reason that a first date is so pressure packed
is because of shyness. Many people who wish to make a splash in the dating
scene are very shy. Some believe that shyness is a self-imposed condition.
While this is in part true, many people are painfully shy and this shyness is
just as real to them as any other aspect of his or her life. To people like
these, dating in general and first dates in particular can be very difficult.
If a first date is daunting to people who are not shy, imagine how scary it
would be for a shy person. A way that a shy person can help fix this problem is
perhaps listen to motivational tapes or get therapy to help him or her with
self-esteem.
One other reason that someone might be fearful of a
first date is that he or she might have just come out of a serious
relationship. If someone is trying to get back into the dating scene after a
broken relationship, he or she may feel a certain pressure to find a new
partner and begin another serious relationship again. This type of person
always needs to be sure that he or she is ready to date again. It may not be
the right thing to do to start dating if there is no chance of a new
relationship with that person at that point. Plus, if that person moves on to a
new relationship without being ready for it, the new relationship may not go
well.
There are several reasons first dates are
nerve-racking. From the fact that there may or may not be a second date, to
someone being shy, to an old relationship hanging over one’s head, a first date
can have a lot of pressure associated with it. By making changes in your life,
you can conquer whatever fears you have associated with the first date.
When individuals experience anxiety, every little
thing, even trivial concerns are magnified a hundred times. This is why people
who are experiencing this condition tend to worry about things that normally
they would not worry about.
But strangely enough, it is these exact same elements
that come with dating that some other people find exciting. They just love the
rush that goes with greeting their date for the very first time.
Some like the anticipation of what is in store for the
evening. They wonder if the night would actually end with a kiss, and secretly
they try device a plan that would work towards meeting this end!
Unfortunately there are some people who are prone to
developing anxiety attacks when it comes to dating! Luckily, there are some things
that individuals can do to counteract this evil.
Here's a list of some of the things that you can do to
keep dating anxiety in control:
1.
Fess up. If your face is turning blue, and
your hands are breaking into pools of sweat, it is pretty obvious that
something is wrong. Why not explain to your date that you have a tendency to
become nervous when it comes to dating. Look at it this way, if you are with
someone special, a person who truly cares about you, they will immediately come
to your aid with words of comfort. Not only will they appreciate your honestly,
but they will be supportive and make an effort to put you at ease.
2.
Don't forget to breath! Sounds simple
enough, but when a person is stricken with panic attacks their heartbeat
becomes accelerated and sometimes even erratic. This is why some find it
difficult to breath. The best thing to do in this situation is to take long,
deep breaths. This will help calm you down, until you catch your breath. If you are in a stuffy room, or a crowded
place, it would be best to excuse yourself for a few minutes so you can get out
and get some fresh air. Later if you wish, you can explain what happened to
your date.
3.
Don't blame yourself. Sometimes things
don't run so smoothly despite our best effort to make things go as planned.
Some unexpected things always seem to come up! For instance, if you did not
succeed in getting a handle on your anxiety during the date, and thus resulting
in a bad date, don't kill yourself with self loathing. Give yourself a break! Bad
days happen to everyone, anxiety or no anxiety! Besides if the person that you
are going out with has true feelings for you, that person will be supportive.
Just shrug it off, since it’s not a big deal.
4.
Think positive thoughts. When a person
starts to become riddled with self-doubt and apprehensions, this is the time
when anxiety comes in. Instead of beating yourself up mentally over your lack
of self confidence and uncertainty, give yourself a pep talk. Tell yourself to
relax, and enjoy the moment. Remember that people's attitude shape their
perception of their environment. So instead of focusing on your insecurities,
focus on having a good time. A little bit of attitude tweaking goes a long way
in helping keep anxiety under control.
5.
Don't be too hard on yourself. Don't set a
goal to be the perfect date! This will definitely lead you to an anxiety
attack! Don't worry about saying the right things all the time. Everyone
commits mistakes and foibles. The difference is most people don't dwell on it!
This is why these people don't get anxiety attacks. They can just enjoy
themselves. Going on a date is never easy, whether you are a veteran of many heartbreaks, or just new to the game. The important
thing for individuals to remember is to not put too much pressure on themselves, but to have a good time!
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