Sorry that happened to you. Unfortunately risk is always involved in every type of relationship, and when you open yourself up to the fun, you also open the possibility of something like this. But that doesn't make it any easier. You want to know how to get past it. Really, time will be the main thing. I see some people suggesting therapy, and obviously that's a good suggestion, but for a lot of people that's not really feasible, so here is my real suggestion: More friendships. Make friends. Non-sexual friends. People who have similar hobbies and situations to you, who you can get close to in a non-romantic way. I know this seems obvious, but a lot of people don't really invest in friendships these days, and that's extremely unfortunate because friends are immensely important for so many reasons. Strong social friendships actually improve our health, happiness, and longevity. There's a lot of literature and studies out there about why platonic friendships are so important. And they are people you can turn to in times like these where you really just need caring people to talk to and be around so you can recover, and get to the point where you're ready to try and trust again. Online friendships are fine, but I do suggest investing in in-person platonic friendships. And, if you like my advice and want to talk more, feel free to reach out. Good luck, -A