How to navigate romantic love?

[path_to_nowhere]

A few months ago I came to the realization that I depended heavily on relationships for a sense of self worth. And ever since then, I've been single and working on not relying on others for a sense of worth. But I still love and want to be loved. My parents are far too occupied with their own lives to fulfill my emotional needs. My friends and I lead vastly independent lives. I guess my question is how do I navigate romantic love? Should I acknowledge and pursue it or should I supress it? Given that I have anxiety and OCD, am I lovable?

[Courtm4511]

I can sympathize with this so much ❤️ I don’t have the answer but I can give you my opinion. Don’t shut out love to find yourself. Some people can look in the mirror each day and find love- I can do that now too. But it was with a lot of help. It doesn’t have to be a romantic relationship but finding people that will help you see your worth is priceless. Your job is to start believing it. The problem isn’t that you rely on people to feel worthy of love- it’s that you don’t believe it. If you can’t believe It while you’re being loved then how will you when you are all alone. I say go for it. Communicate early on. I have anxiety and ocd and I have been moving from relationship to relationship for 10 years. The man I have been with for a year and a half is my final one and he made it all worth it. You’ll find one that accepts you and makes you see how special you are. But you won’t find him if you don’t put yourself out there.

It might be an unpopular answer and maybe taking time to work on yourself would be helpful to some, or even you but in my experience I did the best evaluation on my feelings and self worth when I was in the middle of them. Just realize a partner doesn’t define you- they just help you see what’s already there.