I've been single now for 18 months after being in toxic relationship for 6 years.
The break up was pretty easy to be honest and I've felt very happy to be out of it and enjoying single life. I haven't really dated anyone since my ex.
However, I have very recently been getting to know someone who appears to be the total opposite of my ex – kind, emotionally intelligent, thoughtful, and a really positive person to be around.
But with this has come emotions/feelings of being scared to become close to someone following such a toxic relationship. I am trying to be as rational as possible knowing that they are not the same person, but I have this overwhelming feeling that I would rather cut it off before I start to develop deep feelings, as I really really don't want to have to ever revisit some of the horrible places I was emotionally in my past relationship.
It's upsetting me that I feel this way, but I don't know how to control this feeling/desire to sabotage any emotional connections I have with people.
Has anyone else experienced this and has any advice?