I (26F, single, living alone, dating casually for the first time) have experienced NRE in the forming of monogamous relationships exactly twice. But it didn't even come CLOSE to what I'm feeling for my latest connection. It's been about a month now that we've been developing the relationship, and about two weeks that I've been feeling out of control.

Y'all, when I tell you... I have lost interest in eating. I have spent sleepless nights fantasizing. I talk to them in my head sometimes about random topics, which hasn't happened to me since I was in high school and really admired a couple of my teachers. I am struggling to find the motivation to care for myself in basic ways because my brain feels hooked on the easy, instantaneous dopamine that it can receive from just thinking about them. I rely on screen time to pass my hours, and it's negatively impacting my mood and sense of self. Even when I have the intention to do other things, a lot of times it doesn't pan out because I get distracted by some high/instantaneous reward activity, like social media or masturbation.

I'm NRE sick. Brainsick.

I know this is common for neurodivergent folks, and I'm trying not to be too hard on myself for it. I struggle with seasonal depression, too, so I'm sure there's some of that at play in the imbalances here. But I'm at the point where I'm no longer willing to consent to feeling out of control, and I'd like to get back in the driver's seat. This imbalance is a main reason I had to tell my hopefully-future-partners that we gotta pump the brakes before hopping into bed, even though I'm desperately excited about the sexual dynamics we've discussed.😭 I feel like I can't trust myself to make decent decisions while my brain is in this reward-seeking state of overstimulation.

Who's got recommendations?! The thing that comes to my mind is a dopamine detox, which seems very needed, but I'm having a hard time gathering the willpower to create and execute a plan for the detox itself. So if anyone has done that and has insight on how to force myself, that's welcome too. TIA.