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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle

No one has ever been in love with me. What can I do to make it happen?

Young troubled couple
Bad experiences and unreciprocated feelings can make it hard to want to keep dating. Photograph: Alamy

I’ve been single for a few years, after going through a breakup that left me incapacitated. That, coupled with growing up with an alcoholic father who was abusive enough that I had to leave my home, has left me wary. I’ve only met a few men that I wanted to pursue something with, and the people I’ve fallen for haven’t seemed bothered, and it’s knocked me back. A recent experience particularly so. I try to remain open and keep dating, and be brave and honest about emotions, however I find it hard after my experiences. I begin to lose faith as I approach 30, and I’m aware no one has been especially in love with me. I wonder if it will happen, and meanwhile I feel like male affection and care is significantly absent in my life. What can I do?

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