Online Dating Image Copyright: kzenon / 123RF Stock Photo
Online dating is a 21st Century phenomenon and it is a natural extension of our social networking activity, especially if we have struggled to find meaningful relationships in our own backyard or we are on the rebound from a relationship break-up.
For the fortunate, it can be a wonderful, self-affirming experience to break down the boundaries of geographical location and meet directly with kindred minds and hearts that, only a generation ago, we would only have come across through chance.
But online romance can also rip our lives apart when the fantasy bubble is popped by cruel experience. People can be left shattered from the effects of yo-yo dating, more confused than ever about what it is they are really looking for. It is easy to be sucked into the illusory world created by glamorous selfies and glowing character profiles but sadly the hope and euphoria of meeting the ‘perfect match’ all too often ends in bitter disappointment. Some people turn to online dating for random ‘no strings’ sex hook-ups, which can harm your health and damage self-esteem once the initial excitement wears off. In the most extreme cases it can lead to tragedy, especially if personal safety is sacrificed in the pursuit of romance.
Recovering from Bad Online Dating Experiences
If you, or someone you know, are recovering from a bad online dating experience or are currently stuck in an unhappy relationship, consider online or telephone counselling; if you are comfortable working online then this can also be your avenue for seeking help, perhaps in combination with face-to-face therapy. Counsellors and therapists are increasingly using technology as an adjunct to face to face therapy, and it is especially useful for:
- At home parents
- People with disabilities
- Domestic abuse victims
- People with agoraphobia
- People with hectic lifestyles
- People who prefer anonymity
- People relocating
- People traveling for work, gigs, location shoots, etc.
Working in anonymity (not walking through a clinic door), and from the comfort of your own home or office, can be very enabling and often adds an extra dimension to the work of finding out what is really going on in your life and relationships.