I will never give up my search because their is no other alternative in my mind. After three bad ones in a row I took a break from even looking, my risk tolerance has gone up again so I am out there looking a bit more now.
I did that too. after a long list of bad friendships/relationships, I allowed a woman to become a "friend" a couple of years ago, at college. As soon as the class was over that "friendship" ended without any explanation from her, and when I tried to find what I had done, if anything to upset her, she threatened me with a stalking charge, AND almost got me kicked out of college.
SO, needless to say, the "safety shields" are still in the UP position, at this time.