I did post this on the main sub, but was redirected here. It's a difficult time for me, as I've made the tough decision to sever ties with an abusive family member. This has unleashed a domino effect that has unearthed a lot of latent dysfunction that has been simmering beneath the glossy surface of my family unit. So for now, I think it's best if I separate myself altogether and learn how to be a person away from endless power struggles, witch hunts, and gaslighting.

As you can imagine, this step has been both empowering and lonely. I'm dealing with trauma I've repressed for years; a potent cocktail of rage, relief, and sorrow; and plenty of my own issues to tackle. So I alternate between feeling tremendously free and very alone. My friends have been nothing but kind and loving to me, but I'm definitely rather vulnerable at this time. So someone who heard about my struggles asked me out to dinner, a guy. He paid for it and told me that he was willing to listen any time I needed to talk. He's not even my type, but the idea of someone sweeping me off my feet is far more seductive than it ordinarily would be. So I've found myself looking forward to his texts and enjoying any trace of attention he shows. Not. Good.

I know that some men can be drawn to "damsels-in-distress", which I might qualify as at this time. And this guy told me that he reached out to me because I shared that I was struggling in our group, which could either be a good thing or a bad thing. I don't want to idealize. I don't want to make this out to be more than it is. But I have to admit, it's tempting. There's a lot I'd like to be rescued from right now. How can I keep my wits about me at this time and avoid being taken advantage of?