For a brief introduction, I (23M) have been alone most of my life. About a year ago I finally gathered my courage to do the first cold approach. Since then and until about a month ago I did roughly 60 cold approaches, in all sorts of situations. Around two weeks ago I decided to be more consistent and I did another 20 approaches in a short span of time. And while I have more courage than ever before, I am getting more and more depressed as it seems that there is always something that does not work.

I do expect to not be that great after just about 80 approaches, most of which across about a year, but I would expect to fail differently. I would expect to have some dates that don't turn into anything. Some conversations that go bad at some point perhaps. Some interactions where the girl is interested to talk to me, but for some reason nothing else comes out of it.

Instead, it seems that almost always the girl is not interested or has a boyfriend. All the interactions I have do not last more than 1-2 minutes. And as objectively as I can, I think I am above average in looks, conversation skills and body language. It getting more and more depressing since after all this effort it seems that I am no closer to success. Yes, I approach anyone I have the courage to, without looking for IOIs, mostly because I never seem to get one. And I am actively looking around for them.

And the thing is that I read around this sub and it seems that people have a lot more success from cold approaches, and that beginners have a date or a pleasant conversation after just a couple of approaches. I, on the other hand seem to be getting nowhere. The rational part of me thinks that obviously I still have things to learn and success will come. But that doesn't make anything feel less depressing.

Is it normal for things to be so desperate? What were your stories of progress? How long did it take you to start having success? I am dire need for some closure and motivation.