Almost posted this in the "Introduce Yourself" section, but thought it be better applied here because maybe, just maybe, another guy has been in the same boat.

This might be a rather unique situation among this community. Maybe not.

All through high school and college-age years, I had very little problems getting girls. Had many options, lots of acquaintances, good social circles... I considered myself to be sort of a passive PUA, and I say passive because honestly, I often had girls initiating me... it was my natural game of less is more, make her want you. I never felt like I really had to go too far out of my way, and if girl's weren't initiating off of my vibe or even approaching, any other game felt natural and I never thought about it too much as such a technique as outline per the PUA community. But, among me and some other friends, we did have our unwritten rules we followed, we are quite similar to the staples among this community.

The obvious such as: The nice guys finish last rule was huge... girls "like" a guy that's head over heals and will put her on the pedestal, but she will also walk all over him - but won't have that deeply ingrained WANT and passion for him. You must make the girl want you and feel challenged to get you, because you are different, unique, apart from the AFC's putting her on the pedestal. For some reason her mind, you don't think she's the shit so she must show you that she is.

Smooth sailing from there... during those days.

Here's where I fucked up. With a girl that was meant to be nothing more than a fuckfriend, I entered a "serious" relationship. I went through a big rough spot in my personal life (aside from the GF factor), lost myself to weakness and succumbed to basically emotionally depending on a female. I knew it was happening, but for some reason I lost control. When I should've been listening to my best friends and my own instinct, I let her take me for a serious ride and walk the fuck all over me.

Obviously, I was able to pull myself together eventually, and rid myself of the poison that was drawn out over 3 years. I did hook up with a few ladies here and there during months-long breakups, but it was never the same during that time. Anywho, I was able to regain my composure and pride as a man and human being, wake up to reality, and got rid of her. Unfortunately as a backlash of this, it really put a horribly bitter taste in my mouth for the opposite sex. I didn't fully recuperate in the sense that I felt that every female was low level scum and out to fuck you over, and it seemed as though for a rather extended period of time, I simply didn't give a fuck. I'd had sex with so many girls prior to the relationship, and had been through that entire clusterfuck known as a monogamous relationship... instead of doing what I should've done by doing what I always did best, and enjoying the blissful majesty of sex with multiple quality ladies, I really just concentrated on my other love... money... And spent every waking moment dedicated to making money and living the higher life 'above the influence' of females, and not even really giving two fucks about them.

I've had great encounters here and there along the way... don't get me wrong, I've never really gone completely sexless for a large period of time, but it's just that since those days of the relationship, I haven't felt entirely the same. It's like my subconscious and past experience knows that I have a bit of talent in the art of pickup, but some anxiety (if you could call it that), over-analyzing and odd confidence BS, as well as fear of repeat situation with the relationship that keeps me in somewhat of a shell.

LIke many of us here, I have extremely high standards. I believe nearly every man is entitled to the 9's and 10's if he wants it. I could hook up with a couple girls as we speak, but just really aren't what I REALLY want, ya know? It has been a little while since my last encounter, and part of me tells me to go bang a 6-7 just for a confidence booster and increase in morale, but the other part of me, which is my competitive and always exceeding personality, wants to go find the 10's. I'm sure someone of us can relate, lol.

I love beautiful women, sex with beautiful women, being around them... enjoying them. And lately after really delving into the PUA community, it's got me much more ambitious and feel like my 'old self' if that makes sense. In my mind I know what I have to do... just go natural, do like I used to do, instinctively follow the unwritten rules in my head, and go back to the ladies man with multiple options at any given time.

I have a job that keeps me quite social, I am constantly meeting and small-talking strangers. With known friends and what not I am the talkative, sort of leader type. But friends are friends, and my experiences at work are mostly limited to older folks... not the social caliber or pool of HB's in which I seek. When I am out in public and social settings, these strange chokes come on, and my mind starts to fade for some reason. Approaching an HB doesn't feel as natural as it used to. I've also found myself being more introverted, distancing myself from acquaintances and spending more time alone, because sometimes I prefer it... but on a grander scale... I'm not so sure that's exactly what I want these days.

It probably sounds/looks as though the advice I need is almost given to myself in this post with knowing what I need to do... Which is pretty much the simple truth. But I figured I would post here and tell a bit of backstory, and thought maybe there is possibly other PUA's that have gone through similar experiences and can shed any advice. Time has passed since the helm of my great experiences with many ladies... and as I get a little older (later 20's now) it seems the fabric of what once was strong social circles seems to be breaking down... My appearance hasn't really changed much, I've taken care of myself and wouldn't say I have much of an issue in the attractiveness department, but it doesn't seem like it's as simple as it was back in the 'day' when I had girls all over me with little effort. I assume it's just because I don't put myself out there enough.

So I feel like it's a completely new game, even though really not all too much is different when it comes to knowing the female gender. A little older now, perhaps more 'wise' in some people's eyes, but in the eyes of the PUA community, that 'wisdom' is actually what is probably hindering really getting back into the game. I know there will be the obvious advice of 'just getting out there'... but perhaps someone that's gone through similar situations can shed even more light on the subject. Or even the pro's that have good advice.

Feel free to comment if you actually read my long ass post... which I apologize for lol. Even just sharing these details and self-evaluation in the form of a wake-up call is a great start to really getting back on the road of what I would like to consider myself as someday, up there with the most elite PUA's that have mastered the art of pickup.