I’m turning 23 this year and scared of dating…

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how scared I am of relationships and dating. I’m about to turn 23 soon, and honestly? I’ve never dated anyone. It’s not that I haven’t tried—there were a few instances where I tried to let go of fears and date someone for fun, but the idea of casual dating without a future freaked me out. I think I’m scared of getting attached, scared of not being able to move on, or worse, ending up in a situation like my parents, whose marriage didn’t work out.

This fear weighs on me a lot. Even now, when I meet someone I like, I can’t just enjoy it. My brain overthinks every single thing—What if they’re from a different caste or religion? What if they turn out to be misogynistic? What if they’re an alcoholic? What if I get attached, and it all falls apart? I feel like I’m putting up walls before I even have a chance to know the person.

I’ll admit, I’ve ghosted potential dates and avoided approaching people I like because of this. And honestly, I feel guilty about it. I really want to give love and relationships a shot, but my overthinking and fear of attachment keep pulling me back.

How do I deal with this? How to let go of fear of heartbreak?