After more than a year of pandemic and distanced social life, are you freaking out about going out again and meeting your date in real life? You may have FODA.
We knew the FOMO or the fear of missing something and the FOBO, the fear of making choices, but here is a new acronym to describe our anxieties has just appeared: the FODA for Fear of Dating Again, or the fear of dating post-covid. Fear of the virus, loss of habits, withdrawal into oneself … So many reasons that hold back single people.
FODA, or the fear of making new romantic encounters
While deconfinement is looming, finally letting a glimpse of the end of the tunnel, for some, especially single people, the idea of resuming a “normal” life, punctuated by outings and new encounters, can be a source of stress. For many, the fear of nabbing the covid has overtaken the urge to nab at all. A real anxiety called FODA or Fear of Dating Again, which can be translated by “The fear of dating post-covid”. Moreover, the dating application Hinge, at the origin of this new term, recently revealed that the vaccinated people (who registered it in their bio) received 25% more likes than those who were not. . “There may be some apprehensions about how to combine respect for barrier gestures and seduction within the framework of a date”, confirms with Aufeminin Marine Ravinet, trend director at Happn.
In addition to the fear of catching the covid, there is also the difficulty of starting to forge social ties again. After more than a year of confinement and distanced social life, some are struggling to regain their habits and open up to new people. Thus, single people may lack confidence according to Marine Ravinet: “ The absence of meetings for more than a year can sow doubt in some and cause them to feel more anxious than usual. According to a recent poll by happn, three-quarters * of singles think they’ve lost the habit of dating! “
FODA: the impact of covid on love life
For singles, the context requires going through dating apps to make romantic encounters. “The year 2020 has had a strong impact on the love life of singles and new behaviors have emerged over the past year”, notes the trend specialist at Happn. The first date on video would be a new habit that is well on its way to last, just like taking more time to talk with one another over time. “Through this ‘slow dating’ trend, singles are realizing that their approach to dating is in their hands. It is no longer necessary to rush things – especially in this new context ”, she continues.
But for many of them, spending time in front of a screen becomes an additional constraint, causing weariness and fatigue. They regret the carelessness of the past because we must admit that reinventing the dating is not always easy, between barrier gestures, masks and PCR tests.
Read also : How Singles Cope With Lockdown On Dating Apps
How to fight FODA?
While FODA can be annoying for anyone looking for love, there are ways to deal with post-covid dating more calmly. A majority of Hinge users (78%) said they took much more care of their mental health, whether it was exercising or stepping away from social media. 29% say they consult a mental health professional to help them cope with the situation.
Marine Ravinet invites singles to “To listen to their feelings and to be sincere with themselves”. “It is totally normal to feel anxiety and stress before a first date and even more so in this time of pandemic. Singles must respect their fear and especially not hesitate to ask for help, if it becomes too intrusive ”, she warns. Go at your own pace, if you’re not ready yet, don’t panic. Better to be honest with yourself about your connection with someone, than to rush into a relationship just because you don’t want to be alone. “Finally, when you feel ready, all you have to do is enjoy the present moment! Deconfinement is becoming clearer, and with it the joy of rediscovering the meeting places that we have missed so much for a year. Singles will be spoiled for choice and will be able to put all the chances on their side for this first date! “, concludes Marine Ravinet.
* survey carried out at happn internally on a panel of 350 users, in April 2021
What is apocalypsing, this dangerous behavior for our love life?
Marion Dos Santos Clara
Lifestyle journalist, Marion writes on topics related to psychology, love and sexuality, from a societal perspective. From sexualities to new love codes, she deciphers the …