I encountered a woman today while shopping. She was exactly my type - from the way she spoke to the way she carried herself to the way she dressed to her physical beauty. She gave me a very brief, but friendly smile. Almost immediately, I wanted to run and hide, feeling that at this point in my miserable life, I could never have such a special woman in my life. And if I did, I would somehow feel happy again and more complete.

This is exactly what I meant by "validation from females." I catch myself doing it all the time. I know these feelings are just that - feelings not really based in any sort of reality. Logically speaking, how could anyone besides me make me feel more complete or whole? Yet these thoughts still pop up for me in these instances.