Dear Kimberely:

I will attempt to answer two of your questions for now, and I hope that you let me know what you think of it, and if you do, we can communicate further:

“How do I prevent my failed dates from making me feel depressed? Do you think it’s still worth dating?”- here is my suggestion: instead of diving into mini-relationships (online communication, maybe on the phone as well,  followed by one or two dates), look at your dating app activity as interviewing men for the position of being your boyfriend.

Think of all the men on the app as potential boyfriends, and start the process of eliminating possibilities based on the information they share on the app. Communicate with a number of men online, continue to eliminate, then start meeting a few, one at a time of course, in a coffee shop during the day, socially distanced of course, the two of you learning about each other during a meeting in-person.

This way your dating app activity will be a learning experience for you, instead of mini-relationship that involve hope and then disappointment, over and over again. I think that it will be worth it for you to date with the change of mindset that I am suggesting, if you are willing and able to adapt such a mindset.

anita