Let me start out saying, I’m not really a one night stand person. Nothing against it but I really love the slow burn of connecting with someone. Recently I had a ons that really just wrecked me.

A handful of factors I think led to me feeling this way but I’m curious if others have had similar experiences. This was my first since my partner and I opened things up. The person it was with was someone that had dated a friend of mine , and their relationship ended very poorly. Along with a little too much alcohol, and having a rough time at work, I think I was looking for personal validation through sex.

Overall this isn’t what I wanted to do stepping into ENM. Sure I don’t mind having a connection that leads to a one night stand but it felt so cheap and uncharacteristic, that I hurt my own feelings in the process.

Further note: I am very new to ENM and still working through a lot of the preconceived ideas I had about love and relationships through a monogamous lens.

My partner and a close friend were very understanding and helpful with my anxiety filled morning after, but I wanted to hear how others deal with guilt/frustration/anxiety in some of these situations you won’t find in a hallmark movie.