26M Emotionally numb from past experiences, and it’s stopping me from getting married. Will I ever be able to open up again?
I’m a 26-year-old guy and honestly feel completely emotionally unavailable right now and ik how much girls hate guys like us especially if your partner is that way even if they dont i feel like i might ruin a life of someone by getting married. Over the years, a lot of rough life experiences forced me to build up thick walls just to protect myself, and at some point, my brain essentially shut down emotionally. Right now, my entire existence is on autopilot, work, hit the gym, go home, repeat. That routine keeps me sane and disciplined, but it leaves zero room for actual connection. The biggest issue right now is intense pressure from my family to settle down and get married, but I refuse to drag someone into a marriage when I feel this guarded and numb. I want to build a real future, but I honestly don’t know how to let my guards down or unlearn this detachment. For the all those who went through this kind of emotional survival mode, how did you break out of the autopilot loop? Were you ever able to let go of the past and live a normal, emotionally available life again?