Dear Listener, are you a sensitive, anxious man who struggles to feel confident while dating? You're not alone! In this episode, host and dating coach Josh Van Vliet shares his personal experience looking for love as a highly sensitive and, at times, insecure man. 

Spoiler alert: Josh is now happily married to his co-host, Jessica!

Jessica plumbs Josh’s dating experiences to answer the question, How do you date successfully when you're a deeply feeling, anxious man? 

Josh gets real about his experiences and struggles as a sensitive introvert who doesn’t fit society’s picture of a confident, James-Bond-like man.  He shares stories and strategies, including how proudly owning his temperament helped him find love.

Jessica and Josh also delve into dating while anxiously attached and how being a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) affects relationships. They challenge the stigma and stereotypes and offer a fresh perspective on how sensitivity and anxiety can actually be superpowers in the dating world.

This episode is a treasure trove of personal anecdotes, expert insights, and practical tips for men who feel they're too sensitive for the dating scene.

Key Takeaways

00:00 - Intro

03:52 - What is anxious attachment and high sensitivity?

09:56 - What did your dating and relationship journey look like?

11:30 - How did your anxiety, attachment styles, and sensitivity show up in your dating experience?

15:22 - How did you work with your anxiety in dating?

37:04 - Asking someone out as an anxious, highly sensitive man

52:50 - How did you keep returning to dating?

Resources and links

For full show notes with links, visit relationshipcenter.com/podcast

Dr. Elaine Aaron’s website, including self assessment for high sensitivity

Ep. 4 - How pacing can help you find love that lasts

Someone can be madly in love with you and still not be ready. They can love you in a way you have never been loved and still not join you on the bridge. And whatever their reasons you must leave. Because you never ever have to inspire anyone to meet you on the bridge. You never ever have to convince someone to do the work to be ready. There is more extraordinary love, more love that you have never seen, out here in this wide and wild universe. And there is the love that will be ready. ― Nayyirah Waheed

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Looking for some help finding your person? Visit relationshipcenter.com