Therapist warns of the dating app fatigue, as 60% of singles admit they’re burnt out…
Swiping, messaging and waiting for replies is leaving many singles exhausted. A therapist has warned of the signs that dating apps are taking a toll, and how to step back without giving up on love. Singles are being urged to look out for the signs of dating app fatigue, as new research reveals just how many people are burning out in the search for a partner.
A survey of 1,000 single UK adults who are actively dating found that 60% had experienced dating app fatigue. Almost half (49%) said they would rather meet someone more naturally. Natalie Buchwald, a therapist at Manhattan Mental Health Counseling, has warned that dating can start to chip away at people’s confidence without them realizing.
The warning signs to watch for
“You might still want a relationship but feel dread when another message arrives,” Natalie said. “If every conversation feels like work, or disappointment is turning into the belief that there is something wrong with you, it’s time to reassess what dating is asking of you.”
Buchwald specializes in mood and eating disorders, helping individuals and couples improve their emotional wellbeing and build stronger relationships. Her approach emphasizes the connection between mind and body.
She urged singles to notice changes in how they normally react. Conversations they once enjoyed might start to feel irritating. They might expect every new person to let them down, or feel relieved whenever a date is cancelled.
A separate study, by Computers in Human Behavior, surveyed 881 dating app users in China. It linked ongoing loneliness with greater dating fatigue, and found that fatigue was also linked with ghosting.
“Pay attention to whether you’re uninterested in a particular person or feel unable to face anyone,” she explained. “You’re allowed to decline a date, and you’re also allowed to recognise that you have very little energy for dating right now.”
Work out what’s draining you
Before making any changes, Natalie advised thinking back over your last few sessions on the apps. Was it juggling too many conversations, finding out again and again that matches wanted something different, or waiting for replies and feeling rejected?
Each problem needs a different fix. If conversations feel overwhelming, pause new matches. If intentions keep clashing, make what you’re looking for clear on your profile and ask about it early.
If silence leaves you feeling low, Natalie warned against reading too much into it. “‘This person hasn’t replied’ is something you know. ‘Nobody will ever want me’ is a conclusion you can’t draw from it.”
For anyone who feels drained by the whole experience, the therapist urged making the break deliberate. That means pausing your profile, turning off notifications and picking a date to check in with yourself, without treating it as a deadline to return.
Natalie added: “Give yourself time with people you can relax around. Notice whether your mood improves, whether you’re checking your phone less and whether you start looking forward to things again.”
Going back on the apps
If you decide to return, she suggested sticking to one app and setting planned times to check it. Leave space between dates to think about how you felt, rather than spending the evening trying to win the other person’s approval.
If low mood, anxiety or loss of interest carries on and affects other parts of your life, Natalie urged speaking to a GP or a qualified mental health professional.
“You can want a partner and still protect the life you have now,” she said. “Being single doesn’t come with a deadline you have to exhaust yourself trying to meet.”
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Therapist warns of the dating app fatigue, as 60% of singles admit they’re burnt out…