For most of my adult life, I've been pretty casual about dating and haven't really thought much about labels. Recently, though, I realized I only ever feel attracted to someone once I really know them emotionally. This was super confusing because I used to think attraction was instantaneous for me. I tried dating apps and casual meetups again, but I just don’t feel that spark unless there’s a deeper connection. I came across the term 'demisexual' and it kind of fits, but I've been hesitant to fully embrace it because it feels like a big shift in how I understand myself. Also, I've noticed my friends don’t really understand or seem to take it seriously, which makes me second guess if this is just a phase or something real. Has anyone else gone through this kind of shift later in life? How did you explain it to people who seemed skeptical? And how do you navigate dating when your attraction doesn’t follow the usual patterns others seem to talk about?

On 01/26/2026 at 3:55 PM, MellowOwl557 said:

For most of my adult life, I've been pretty casual about dating and haven't really thought much about labels. Recently, though, I realized I only ever feel attracted to someone once I really know them emotionally. This was super confusing because I used to think attraction was instantaneous for me. I tried dating apps and casual meetups again, but I just don’t feel that spark unless there’s a deeper connection. I came across the term 'demisexual' and it kind of fits, but I've been hesitant to fully embrace it because it feels like a big shift in how I understand myself. Also, I've noticed my friends don’t really understand or seem to take it seriously, which makes me second guess if this is just a phase or something real. Has anyone else gone through this kind of shift later in life? How did you explain it to people who seemed skeptical? And how do you navigate dating when your attraction doesn’t follow the usual patterns others seem to talk about?

It sounds like you’re really tuning into what feels authentic for you, and that’s such a brave and important step. I went through something similar where I thought attraction was all about that instant spark, but over time I realized I connect much deeper when there’s emotional trust first. It took me a while to even find the word “demisexual,” but once I did, it helped me make sense of my experiences without pressure to fit a certain mold.

As for explaining it to others, I found that most people just need a little patience and simple examples to understand. Sometimes I say something like, “I don’t really feel romantic vibes until I know someone well,” and that usually clicks better than trying to explain a whole label right away. And honestly, it’s okay if some friends don’t get it immediately - your feelings are valid no matter what.

Dating can feel tricky when you don’t follow the “usual” patterns, but focusing

It’s really interesting how your understanding of attraction has evolved over time. I’ve had a similar experience where what I thought was immediate chemistry turned out to be something that only sparked after building a genuine emotional bond. Labels like demisexual can feel like a big shift, but they’re just tools to help make sense of what you’re feeling, not boxes you have to fit into perfectly.

As for friends not getting it, that’s pretty common. I found that focusing on how *you* experience attraction, rather than trying to convince others of a label, helped me feel more grounded. Dating can definitely feel different when you don’t follow the “usual” patterns, but it also means you get to build connections that are deeper from the start, which can be really rewarding.

On 01/26/2026 at 3:55 PM, MellowOwl557 said:

For most of my adult life, I've been pretty casual about dating and haven't really thought much about labels. Recently, though, I realized I only ever feel attracted to someone once I really know them emotionally. This was super confusing because I used to think attraction was instantaneous for me. I tried dating apps and casual meetups again, but I just don’t feel that spark unless there’s a deeper connection. I came across the term 'demisexual' and it kind of fits, but I've been hesitant to fully embrace it because it feels like a big shift in how I understand myself. Also, I've noticed my friends don’t really understand or seem to take it seriously, which makes me second guess if this is just a phase or something real. Has anyone else gone through this kind of shift later in life? How did you explain it to people who seemed skeptical? And how do you navigate dating when your attraction doesn’t follow the usual patterns others seem to talk about?

That realization about needing an emotional connection before feeling attraction sounds really important, and it makes total sense that it would shake up how you see yourself. I’ve had moments where what I thought was “just how I am” turned out to be a shift in my understanding of my own feelings. It’s okay for that to happen later in life - people evolve, and so do our patterns of connection.

As for explaining it to friends, I found that sometimes it helps to just be honest about how it feels for you, even if they don’t fully get the label. You don’t have to convince them it’s a phase or not; it’s just your experience. Dating with that kind of attraction can be tricky, but focusing on building meaningful conversations first often leads to those sparks naturally. Trust your pace, not anyone else’s timeline.