Just got an amazing first message from a guy I'd definitely click with...

1) The "you need to be perfect to be in a relationship" narrative is bullshit and comes from smug people in relationships who are trying to shoehorn their own life trajectories into some flattering narrative that makes them look good and like they had agency.

2) Plenty of people find love when they aren't in great parts of their lives. My ex and I had an amazing relationship for 2 years and his mom died on our 6th date.

3) When people admit to being hesitant about dating someone with diagnosed mental illness, I always remind them that a lot of people struggle with mental illness but haven't sought treatment or even admitted it. They often learn fucked up coping mechanisms and behave destructively. If you are in therapy and managing it, then you are better off than a lot of potential partners because you are cognizant of your issues, making a concerted effort to better yourself in ways proven to be effective, and are thoroughly mindful of your wellbeing. I used to be super embarrassed by my years in therapy, but I now realize it makes me an awesome potential partner because I know how to fucking communicate with people and understand the greater root of my dating impulses and emotions. See being in therapy and working on your mental health as a plus and not a negative

4) Disclose eventually but don't act like you have the plague. I was about sleep with a dude and he just told me, straight out, "I'm on antidepressants. It makes it hard for me to have an erection and orgasm, but I still really want to fuck you and think your hot." I was like, "NBD." Another dude refused to let me touch him even though we were naked and he went down on me and was squirrely about it. He eventually told me he was on SSRIs for an anxiety disorder. I was like, "Um...not really a big deal" but I was more turned off by his hesitancy to tell me. Some people might not want to date you because you dealing with mental health issues. I think that's close-minded because there are a mosaic of experiences of mental illnes. To reject them outright is just ignorant. But a lot of people won't care.

/r/OkCupid Thread