Hi, I'm 26M and it's my first time sharing here. I've been single for seven years now. Initially, it was a choice because of the emotional trauma I experienced—both of my previous relationships ended in betrayal. After being cheated on, I decided I wouldn’t enter another relationship unless it was truly meaningful and lasting.

At first, staying single felt like the right decision. It was easy to turn down anyone who showed interest in me because I simply wasn’t ready to trust again. Over time, however, I unknowingly built walls around myself—strong, protective barriers that kept me safe but also isolated.

Now, after seven years, I feel like I’m ready to love and be loved again. But I’ve come to realize that lowering these walls isn’t as simple as deciding I’m ready. They’ve been up for so long that it feels unnatural and even uncomfortable to let someone in.

The problem isn’t just that I’ve grown accustomed to being single—it’s that I’ve relied on these walls for so long that I don’t know how to put them down. Even though I want to open my heart, there’s still this lingering resistance to vulnerability.

These high walls served their purpose—they protected me when I needed time to heal—but now they feel like obstacles. And no matter how ready I think I am to date or commit, I’m finding it incredibly hard to dismantle them.