I haven't had sex since 2008, because I have been very let down by men in my past.

[SoleSource]

I am scared of being let down again.

I still crave intimacy and emotional connection with a man.

How will I ever get over this?

www.itv.com/thismorning/hot-topics/ingrid-tarrant-seven-years-celibacy

I have just watched this short video.

((hugs))

I survived childhood abuse, rape as a teenager and then several years of ea/dv.

3 horrible horrible men.

I have met many more kind men though, including my lovely dh. I would never have met any of them if I had stopped looking because of my early experiences.

Love, intimacy & adult relationships generally are always a risk. Even platonic friendships are risky. You can try to reduce that risk by being intolerant of anything other than great behaviour in others but getting emotionally attached to anyone and anything makes us vulnerable to disappointment. That's not to say we shouldn't do it.... be a pretty empty life if we never allowed ourselves to love. The key is to be secure enough in yourself and self-reliant enough to know that, if the relationship fails, whilst you might be sad you would still be fundamentally OK.