Dr Love: My dating life is so depressing!

I think I am done with the concept of dating. I struggle with it a lot and whenever I get close to someone, things get awful and the relationship ends even before it has begun. I am going to be 30 in a few weeks and am considering speaking to a professional matchmaker or even asking my parents to look for an arranged marriage. I don’t know if I am being impatient and giving up on the idea of being with someone I love, but this has taken a toll on my mental health, and I just don’t feel confident about meeting new people. My friends think I am being ridiculous, but I have really tried to date and failed for years. Am I doing the right thing?
It’s impossible for anyone to comment on your dating life or habits because only you and the people you date will know what is or isn’t working, and why. Yes, choosing to marry someone you love is preferable, but there’s no rule that states you can’t fall in love with someone you meet via a matchmaker or your parents either. The important thing is to evaluate how you approach these meetings, what you expect from the people you’re with, and what you think your future partner should be like. Sometimes, that sort of clarity can help you change how you approach dating simply by making sure you spend time with people who share your goals. Putting your mental health first is wise but try and maintain openness to all possibilities because life can surprise you.

Is it wrong for me to snoop on my boyfriend’s phone when he’s not around? I just want to make sure he isn’t cheating on me, but this always makes me feel guilty.
If you have no reasons to doubt your boyfriend, and keep feeling guilty, you are ignoring some aspect of your relationship that clearly needs to be worked on. Ask yourself where this lack of trust is coming from, and work on it.