I am having a really hard time overcoming fear of meeting new men. I have small talk with male coworkers at the office, bump into males at grocery stores, chat with males online, but I never feel like I ever want to get to know anyone personally for fear of getting my hopes up that something is going to happen. I am polite and don't refuse people's invitations to get coffee. But now I am beating myself up for even agreeing to such a stupid thing. I'm clearly not ready to be seeing anyone. I have been hurt too many times in this fashion. I don't know why I am letting myself continue to be hurt with the possibly of maybe bumping into the right person. Whenever I encounter a stranger who is male and similar to my age, I immediately avert eye contact. I don't want them to notice me, but part of me also hopes they might notice how fearful I am and do something nice to show me it's ok to interact with someone of the opposite sex. But even if they were nice to me, I doubt they would want to be with a girl who has dysthymia. Short instances are ok, but if someone got to know me long term they would see that I am almost always depressed. My parents keep nagging me about my diminishing youth (seriously only 23 though) and how I need to find a husband now so I can get married in three years and blahblahblah...I know they only mean well for me. But I am sick and tired of getting to know people only to be disappointed, hurt, and lonely all over again.

Has anyone had a similar experience and found a way to either overcome the fear of meeting new people or be comfortable living alone forever?