When someone betrays our trust, they don’t just fool us, they do something worse – they take away our faith in the world in general, make us cynical and disillusioned and view the world through suspicious eyes.

The most gullible moment I ever had was going out with a guy (lets call him David) many years ago who was witty, smart and good-looking. We met at a party and he was very quick to follow up with a phone call. Several dates later, I felt I was in serious danger of falling for this guy. Sure he had some flaws, including a quick temper but he was extremely charismatic and his interest and attention when we were together were very flattering. Being a single mom who hadn’t had a serious relationship in years, I even went to the extent of contemplating taking the relationship to the next level and introduced him to my brother. My usually affable brother for some reason didn’t like him on instinct (how right he later turned out to be), though this didn’t bother me too much at the time.

It was not long later that I saw David accidentally at a restaurant with another woman and came to learn from a friend of his that he was actually married and a father. I was devastated and incredibly hurt and broke off with him after a huge row. He did try to follow up with explanations on the phone and emails declaring his unhappiness with his wife and his growing love for me. But the spell was broken. I came to see him as he really was – a dishonest and unfaithful man with no scruples.

This experience turned me off the dating scene for years and I think that was the worst effect. I came to distrust almost everyone on principle. I’m over it and much more sensible, thanks to the influence of good friends and a subsequent wonderful romantic relationship, which though it didn’t work out in the end, ended amicably and cured me of my cynicism and fear. Though I don’t view the world through rose-colored spectacles I certainly don’t think every man is a potential David anymore.