Dating can be fun and exciting, but it’s also important to prioritize safety especially if you are using a online dating app. Online dating comes with its own set of challenges including fake profiles, old photographs, married people, or even worse predators. If you know, you know already. In order to keep yourself safe consider taking your time before sharing personal details like your home address, neighborhood, school, or workplace. Consider using a separate email or phone number for dating apps. Google voice is one app in which you can set up a free private telephone number that doesn’t link to your home address.
It also can be protective to speak on the phone or via video before meeting in person. Then look for inconsistencies such as body language not matching words. It is a big RED FLAG 🚩 if a person is overly pushy, inconsistent in their story, or refuses to meet in person after chatting online for a while. Trust your instincts! If something feels off, it probably is. Pay attention to how someone makes you feel – do they respect your boundaries, listen to you, and make you feel comfortable? Or do they push too hard, guilt-trip you, or make you question your own feelings? In our therapy we teach about using ones own Wise Mind or our inner sense to make decisions. Ask yourself what is the feeling I have inside my body right now. If it is giving you the ick, end the conversation, maybe even block and delete.
Should you decide to meet in person with someone consider confiding In a friend the location and times of the date. It is more protective to meet in a safe public place like a coffee shop or restaurant with lots of people around. and find your own transportation to the date.
If dating ever feels overwhelming, or if past experiences make it hard to trust and open up, you’re not alone. At The Women’s Center for Behavioral Health, we provide a supportive space where women can explore their emotions, set healthy boundaries, and gain confidence in dating and relationships. There’s no shame in seeking support – sometimes, we all need a little help sorting through our feelings and recognizing what’s best for us. You deserve to feel safe, valued, and happy in your relationships. By prioritizing your well-being and trusting yourself, you can date with confidence, knowing that your safety and happiness come first – always.
