By ARLEN LEIGHT, PhD

The short-lived relationship was rocky at best. You initially thought this man was really for you. Thinking about him made you feel whole, happy, and hopeful. He showed great interest in being with you.

He had some great qualities, but right from the start you knew there were some “issues.”

Being the eternal optimist, you figured you’d work at it in hopes of true love, romance, and relationship. You almost immediately felt a total emotional commitment. You found yourself thinking about him often–maybe obsessively–and projecting a life together way into the future. When the problems became greater than the “relationship” satisfaction, it ended with a feeling of relief mixed with disappointment.

But now it is time to move on, and before you can blink an eye, someone appears with great qualities and, well, some “issues.” Despite these, why not see if this new man is “The One?” So you wholeheartedly invest again, only to find weeks or months later you are ready to jump ship–again. Within days of its ending, another “true love” comes along.

This pattern of obsessive-compulsive behavior is complex and multi-dimensional. The likelihood is that you often feel empty and lonely if you aren’t subject to the attention and “love” of a potential partner. The pain of each break-up is avoided by emersion into the next “relationship.” At its cause, you may have been subjected to childhood emotional neglect and/or abuse. By ignoring red flags or lacking the filters necessary to make wise choices, you are essentially “asking for” a repetition of that childhood abuse, neglect, and/or emotional pain. Unconsciously, you are repeating the “family-of-origin” pattern, which is both familiar and, ironically, comfortable compared with the prospect of true intimacy.

The repetitive dating pattern is an unconscious attempt to heal the wounds of childhood, believing that any friendly interest shown upon meeting is an indication that this new person will fully love you. It is this initial apparent interest that is so alluring, bypassing your rational mind, which might otherwise realize the prospective partner is not really a good match. The limerance (the initial excitement phase of a relationship) provides a dopamine (brain chemical) response that creates a high which has the potential to be very addicting, and covers up any feelings of loss or grief associated with the last “relationship” or childhood pain. Despite the near-desperation to be in a relationship, the pattern actually sets you up for future loneliness–the very feeling you are trying to avoid.

To remedy the behavior pattern, you need to take some major, often painful, steps. These include, but are not necessarily limited to:

1. Finding a therapist who is not invested in your desire to be in a relationship.
2. Taking time off from dating to be by yourself. Feel the pain of loneliness if that comes up. Be with the anxiety. Time and your therapist will help you process these feelings and understand them–and yourself–better.
3. Working on feeling good about you. Fulfillment does not require partnership, and, indeed, to be a good partner you need to feel and be complete by yourself. Self love and acceptance are critical ingredients to bring into intimate relationships.
4. After a sufficient period of time, entering the dating world slowly. Don’t jump into a relationship with the first potential partner who shows you some interest. Have in mind what is important to you in a partner, and do not sacrifice Self at the altar of relationship.
5. Experiencing dating without “relationship” in mind. Don’t limit yourself to one person. Allow yourself to experience all different kinds of people. Have fun and take your time. Interest from others should not be confused with love.
6. If you are going to date someone more than a few times, be sure they are emotionally, intellectually, and sexually available and compatible. Learn to say “no” if there are red flags, if the person is not right for you, or if you find you are giving up parts of you for the sake of a potential partner.
The revolving door of hopeless romanticism keeps you going in circles, never realizing your desire for true intimacy. Get some help and start moving in the direction of your dreams.

Arlen Keith Leight, PhD is a Licensed Psychotherapist and Board Certified Sex Therapist in private practice on the drive in Wilton Manors. Dr. Leight has written and lectured extensively on the topic of gay male intimacy, dating, human connections and relationships, and has been on the faculty of several universities.  He can be reached via email at  DoctorLeight@aol.com, by phone at  954-768-8000, or online at  www.DoctorLeight.com.

Watch for his new book, “Sex Happens: The Gay Man’s Guide to Creative Intimacy,” due out this summer