When Emotions Feel Too Much: Self-Compassion, Fear, and Dating

When Emotions Feel Too Much: Self-Compassion, Fear, and Dating

From Psychology of Dating Podcast by Nadine Neukirch- Clinical Psychologist/Dating Coach

December 19, 2025 · 17 min

About this episode

This episode explores how fear of emotions can hinder meaningful connections in dating.

Many people don’t struggle with dating because they don’t know what to do — they struggle because of the emotions that show up along the way. Fear, anxiety, rejection, uncertainty, longing, disappointment… For many, dating becomes an ongoing attempt to avoid uncomfortable feelings rather than move toward meaningful connection. In this episode, I explore: Why fear of emotions keeps you stuck in unhelpful dating patternsHow emotional avoidance shows up as overthinking, people-pleasing, pu...

People in this episode

Host: Nadine Neukirch

Topics covered

  • self-compassion
  • fear
  • dating
  • emotional avoidance
  • connection
  • anxiety

Keywords

  • emotions
  • dating patterns
  • fear
  • anxiety
  • rejection
  • self-compassion
  • emotional avoidance

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