Dr. Amy E. Keller is a Doctor of Psychology in Psychoanalysis and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She has a private practice in Pasadena, California and is the author of Get Real, Get Going: The Definitive Roadmap to Starting the Private Practice of your Dreams.
All in Press
Should we get back together?
It's an age-old question we've all asked ourselves at one point or another after a relationship ends. In many cases, this is probably a bad idea...but not always!
Love bombing is a tactic in which someone “bombs” you with extreme displays of attention and affection with the intent to manipulate you. Although being showered with "love" can seem positive at the beginning of a romantic relationship, love bombing can lead to gaslighting and abuse.
Sexual chemistry is when you have an immediate physical attraction to someone. Sexual chemistry is usually obvious at the beginning of a relationship and is an important component of many relationships. The danger is you might interpret the sexual chemistry alone as reflecting a deeper connection. Without more knowledge about this very attractive person, you just don’t know enough about who they are.
There’s no denying we are living in unusual, unprecedented times. The pandemic continues to set new ground rules – and then tosses everything up in the air so we all start fresh, with no real beginning, middle or end. But pandemics tend to do this, as history will tell you. Society in general learns to navigate through a new storm almost every week, and what was extraordinary last year – from lineups to food hoarding to mask wearing to word of a vaccine that just may make life bearable again – becomes the ordinary this year. This includes dating. And it appears we are a nation looking for a good date.
The COVID-19 pandemic created a massive upheaval in our lives, and many people are still dealing with its effects. For single people, lockdowns and safety guidelines totally changed the way we date and pursue romantic relationships. While dating was not altogether put on hold, COVID restrictions meant an increased reliance on online dating and alternative methods of getting to know someone new. As more Americans are vaccinated and restrictions are loosened or lifted entirely, people are starting to meet up again for in-person dates. You may feel that it's too soon for you, and feel some hesitation about putting yourself back out there, which is perfectly normal. As you navigate these feelings, here is what to keep in mind about dating as we get closer to the light at the end of the tunnel.
