The relationship pressure

Date:Dec 31, 2005

I'm single and I haven't been a relationship for about a year. I know my reasons why I have spent the past year not being in a relationship.Because when you get your heartbroken a part of you is never the same. I got my heartbroken towards the end of 2004 and slowly got over it in early 2005. I decided to see what was out there and I find myself. I wanted to be with someone with out on all the complications on a regular basis.
The regular basis part didn't work out but I had fun this year anyway. In mid 2005 I decided to see if I could do the relationship thing again. It didn't work out. It took so long to recover I am over it now. But now I'm scared to get into a relationship. I am scared I will get hurt and I wont have the energy to recover.
Both relationships I have had have been so stressful at times I thought the situation would drive me to the edge and make me cry. My best friend insists I cant go on floating around I need a serious relationship so that I will know what I want from a man and a relationship.
My stepfather says if I'm not married by the time 28 I never will. When I was a teenager he used say by the time I was 25. I don't believe what he says and his heart is probably in the right place. But these comments don't help.Maybe I have dated the wrong people and relationships can be bliss.
But in my experience they have been nothing but stress. If anyone has any positive relationship experience. Please respond.

But for me it has always been stressful. You cant focus on anything else. You are always analysing things, there are questions Is he lying to me? Is he cheating? How do keep his interest/ How do I keep the relationship interesting? Why is he acting this way? I am scared to love someone and not have them love me back. I'm scared the guy will be abusive physically or mentally.
I am scared that if it doesn't work out he might stalk me and eventually kill me. Most of all I'm scared that I will get my heartbroken again.I hate the pressure in society for women to be in a relationship. If you aren't in a relationship there must be something wrong with you. You are a sad single person. But I do believe you can be single and happy.