It feels like whenever I start to show genuine love or appreciation for a woman, something shifts, and she pulls away. I’m not exaggerating, I’m doing well in life and taking care of myself, but somehow, when I open up, it’s like it creates distance instead of connection. Women seem to take a step back, sometimes disappearing for a day or six, and it feels like my efforts to be authentic and caring just don’t matter.

I know I’m fortunate to have close friends and family who care about me, and I’m grateful for that. But when you start to care deeply about someone romantically, it’s tough when it doesn’t get reciprocated. Sometimes it feels like attachment just leads to disappointment, like they say, “attachment is the root of suffering.” I’m putting in so much work on myself, trying to be the best version of me, but I wonder if I need to look even deeper to understand why this keeps happening.

I don’t know if anyone else gets this feeling, but I’m just… tired.