Hello,

I've been hiding under a rock for many years due to depression. Recently, as I'm slowly crawling back up my hole, I discover myself thinking about my state in terms of relationships.

I'm 25 now and don't have any real experience and my focus the past 2 years was mainly work/school and sports. Time is flying by so quickly that I sometimes get drawn into a state of desperation of me getting into it.

I've had these thoughts/desires before but wasn't fully convinced that I'm ready.

I still feel like I have a long way to go but at the same time I won't get anywhere while just sitting around and waiting till I pick up some "leftovers" in 10 years.

Thus I decided to give online dating a try, which I was and still am quite biased against, since I simply can't be bothered to put effort into being visually convincing before even exchanging a word with a person. The lack of quality pictures also reflects my success in these things and I don't think that I look like a complete potato. It also feels like a waste of time if I don't fake out some great pictures just to get into a conversation.

The only alternative I can think of is doing it the old fashioned way by having first contact in real life. Even if I were to start from the bottom and work myself up by doing babysteps. It'd be more effective than waiting. Are there other alternatives or "guidelines" that can help me start from point zero?