Psychology Today | 09.06.2026 00:29“I didn’t know what I was doing was toxic,” Alex told me. “I just thought that’s how people fight.” Alex, often called a “serial dater” by friends, goes from one serious relationship to another. “As soon as one ends, I have to be with someone new. Being alone terrifies me,” they say. This constant seeking of validation stems from a deep fear of abandonment.
