Came here from /r/deadbedrooms.

I've wasted so much of my life trying to fit into that female ideal that I stopped caring about my own needs, wants and desires. I was finally dumped (after over 3.5 years together) at the start of the month and fought a ridiculous depression for months leading up to it and in the days since. I've been blaming myself and trying to find every possible way to blame myself. In the end I guess we just weren't compatible or heading in the same direction; which is a shame because we were quite good together and never fought or anything. She's still one of my best friends and I harbor no bad blood. Hell, I wouldn't want anyone to be with someone they didn't want to be with. I just hate that she locked the truth away for so long and clearly moved on before pulling the rug out from under me.

I'm going to embrace my bachelorhood for the indefinite future and heed the help of this sub to better myself and finally break out of that nice guy mold that has crippled my emotions as long as I can remember. Time to work more hours, put more cash in the bank, work out and stop stress-eating; get back down to my powerlifting weight and actually make something of myself and for myself.

Thank you theredpill for breaking my vicious cycle of self-loathing. Time to make my future brighter for myself.