Why am I scared of dating again?

I am a 33-year old guy and have been single for two years. My last relationship ended badly and I have not had the confidence to date someone since then. I have tried online dating and friends of mine have introduced me to a lot of very nice women, but I can’t seem to find the courage to meet them more than one or two times because I am afraid. My heart was broken by my ex-girlfriend because I was very sure she was the one I would marry. I know I am being ridiculous but I have tried everything to get over this fear and am starting to believe I will be single for the rest of my life. I am considering therapy and someone has also asked me to try hypnotism to see if it will help. What should I do? Is this normal?
It’s perfectly normal to experience a fear of relationships if you have had to experience a bad one. It’s also okay to take as much time as you need to consider dating again, even if it feels as if you are running out of time. A therapist is a great idea because a neutral opinion from a professional can help in ways that people close to you can’t. I can’t comment on hypnotism because the jury is out on that one, but maybe the thing you can do is focus on making new friends instead of thinking of every woman you meet as a potential partner. Put aside the idea of a relationship, concentrate on building new bonds, and try to enjoy the company of women without the agenda of wondering where it might lead to next. if you simply meet people, like spending time with them, and decide to do it again, it may remind you that what you looking for at the end of it all is a companion, someone you like being around, and someone you want to spend more time with. Take it one day at a time.

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