It is normal. You can carry on like that for many years. It's making the decision to change it that is the break-through.

I've been dating some for a year. The relationship is nice, but I notice that I keep him at a distance. One of the hardest things about going through my divorce was the impact it had on all my social ties. I feel tremendous anxiety about getting more serious with boyfriend and introducing him to friends and family. It's not that I don't care for him. I just don't want to go through the pain of sa erious relationship all come tumbling down again. Anyone get past something like this?