I feel romantic attraction to people but I don't want it to be a real relationship, even just the thought of the subject reciprocating weirds me out. I experience most romantic attraction towards myself or my sonas because they are me. Is this queer, or just a fear of commitment? I genuinely don't want a relationship even in a "perfect world" scenario, but I might feel like I want it in the moment due to hormones (fades after a few hours). I don't mind fantasizing... as long as it isn't too realistic. ew. And whenever I do anything vaguely romantic I get the heebie jeebies thinking back on it.
I know it's not aromantic because aromanticism is a lack of romantic attraction and I definitely experience that, but I genuinely don't want a romantic relationship ever no matter how good the circumstances were. Is there a label for this - if it is even considered LGBTQ - or is it just choosing to be single?
We actually feel similarly for some parts! The way that I think about it is that it’s more important what you want than what people think you should want. Just because you have romantic attraction or something similar to it doesn’t mean you have to want to act on it! If you don’t want to date, then that’s totally okay!
I too wonder if it’s just anxiety, etc., but also. If you feel this way right now, regardless of why, then that’s real! You can identify on the aromantic spectrum now then realize it stemmed from a fear of commitment later and feel differently, or not, and there’s nothing wrong with either.
As for if it counts as queer or LGBTQ, we would consider it to be, and you definitely can if you feel it fits. Labels are opt-in; they exist to describe you, not to dictate anything. Considering that your aversion to romance and romantic attraction isn’t a choice, it doesn’t seem to us that this is just choosing to be single.
Here are some labels that might resonate with you!
Aegoromantic (link) — having a disconnect between yourself and who you’re attracted to. ex. enjoying romantic fantasies or content but not wanting irl romance, fantasies are in third-person or don’t involve you, in fantasies the other person is a generic stranger, fantasies through the perspective of someone else, fantasies including only yourself, preferring fantasies over real life romantic relationships
Akoiromantic / Lithromantic (link) — not wanting your romantic attraction to be reciprocated. it might make you uncomfortable or cause you to lose those feelings. ex. preferring fantasies over real life romantic relationships, losing interest when you start dating or doing romantic activities with someone, being uncomfortable or weirded out by the idea of someone reciprocating your feelings
Amasui (link) — loving other versions of yourself
Autoromantic (link) — romantic attraction to yourself
Arospec (link) — broad umbrella term for anything that isn’t strictly alloromantic. this includes romantic attraction that is little, absent, weak, conditional, atypical, confusing, without desire for acting on it, and more!
Grayaegoromantic (link) — both aegoromantic & grayromantic
Grayromantic (link) — on the aromantic spectrum and not fully aromantic. ex. attraction that is less frequent, weak, without desire for a relationship, confusing, ambiguous, disconnected, conditional, etc. relating to being aromantic but not feeling fully described by that label
Orchidromantic (link) — feeling romantic attraction but not wanting a romantic relationship
Romance-Ambivalent (link) — having mixed, complicated, or unsure feelings about romance
Romance-Averse (link) — having repulsion, discomfort, or any other negative feelings about engaging in romantic acts or relationships. if you also feel this way about romance conceptually or with other people’s actions & relationships, you might be romance-repulsed
Romance-Oscillating (link) — having changing feelings about romance