I’ve even gone off cats!

[Lalakels]

So my ex left me for a newer model but weirdly that didn’t break me as a) she’s a psycho and b) she wasn’t much younger and c) she was skinnier but isn’t now and d) I should be enjoying the karma but am not actually enjoying watching her be a psycho because his moods still affect me. I could go on...
But after a couple of years of self destruct where the only things I managed to still be were an ok parent and a decent employee, I suddenly realise that I cannot see me ever trusting anyone again. And I really think I might end up alone due to a lack of confidence and trust combined with two daughters who are challenging (AF) and a limited social life / lack of confidence. Internet dating is a no go for me. Is anyone else out there surviving but scared?

I felt exactly the same, my ex is a narcissist and I hit rock bottom. Trusting is something I chose to do, armed now with a far better ability to spot untrustworthiness.

However I went on the meet-up site for single parents, I had to rebuild my life around my daughter and not my ex anymore. It worked great, before I knew it we were on play dates and days out with friends. And as the saying goes, lighting struck. I’ve been with my partner for nearly 2 years now.
You only get one life and it’s ticking by. See a therapist, drop the baggage and get out there.

OP I feel like this too but am still only 5 months into separating from a narcissist who had an affair and left last summer. He's now onto the next woman (all over Facebook) whilst I am still struggling to get through each day. Combined with him being manipulative and dishonest about money, and now starting to badmouth me to my kids, I feel at rock bottom. It's impossible to understand how someone who apparently loved you can behave like this and continue to do so much damage. Apparently he is the happiest he has ever been while the kids and I are up and down all the time, having to move house and do 50:50 care at his insistence. I can't imagine meeting anyone else at the moment, I feel too broken, but it would be nice to be able to trust someone else at some point. Very much doubt I would ever consider marriage or giving up my independence again, feels too risky. I hope we can all get through this - you do hear positive stories and I have to believe that will be the case for me too even though it doesn't feel like it now.

I feel like you do op. Except I'm a father. Happy to chat anytime.