FODA, The Fear Of Dating Again Is A Real Thing
Photo by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash
After more than one year of lockdowns and social relationships being reduced to their minimum, perhaps you fear going back to love affairs? Well, you might suffer from FODA.
Finger frenzy, sometimes swiping right, sometimes swiping left. While the love market on apps bursts at the dawning of summer, cafes and restaurants open their terraces once again, offering the occasion to revive our love life over a drink. But the successive waves of lockdowns had a significant impact on all of us, causing anxiety at the thought of dating again.
What is FODA?
FODA (Fear of Dating Again), or the fear of meeting new people during the COVID-19 pandemic, was conceptualized by Logan Ury, Director of Relationship Science at Hinge dating app. He declared to TMRW, "Dating is always a source of anxiety, but going out in the middle of a pandemic? It's unsurprisingly taxing for people".
After integrating social distance (physical and emotional!) into our lives, dates don't feel as frivolous as they used to. Say goodbye to grazing hands and hello to masks and hydro alcoholic gel while, of course, keeping a meter distance between each other. Well, difficult in these conditions to even feel like flirting. But apart from the fear of contamination, flirting seems riskier than ever.
Do we still know how to flirt?
The answer seems to tend towards the negative. And so, returning to a "normal" routine swinging between going out and meeting new people can be stressful for those experiencing cabin fever, namely the fear of leaving your home after extended isolation.
Nevertheless, dating apps users seem to have understood the need to reassure potential dates by mentioning being already vaccinated.
While getting caught up again in the spirit of flirting might take some time, we all should speak openly about our feelings and distress during future dates. It could help break the ice, and who knows, the person in front of you might also have FODA… ♥︎
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