Dating now
- Is this a red flag, or is it my anxiety?A red flag is usually something they do that limits you (your phone, your friends, your pace), while anxiety tends to fire at ambiguity, like a slow reply or an old photo. In your 20s, when intense jealousy and fast starts can look romantic, the test is whether it still bothers you once you've written down only the facts.
- Should I stay after they cheated?You can, but in your 20s you're also allowed to treat it as information about whether this relationship fits the life you're building. Make the call on what they do next and what you actually want, not on what your friends vote or how awkward the group chat will get.
- How long should I wait before I worry about a reply?Early on, longer than feels comfortable. In the talking stage or a few dates in, you don't know their normal pace yet, so give it a full day before reading into it and judge by the week, not the hour. What tells you most is whether plans keep happening.
- Why do I get attached so fast?Usually because early dating is built on not-knowing, and for some people (especially those who lean anxious in how they attach) not-knowing turns the volume on feelings all the way up. It's common, it's not a flaw, and slowing the pace is a skill you can practice.