Interesting thread. OP, I think we have a lot in common. I suffered extreme anxiety and shyness in my early 20's after a pretty traumatic childhood, and struggled with booze and drugs to medicate myself. I started seeing escorts because I didn't know how to get a date and had never had a girlfriend. I quit seeing them about 5 years ago. It was a combination of guilt, and I had a steady girlfriend at the time. As for sti's, you at least have some kind of HPV, it's impossible not to get (even without all the BBBJ's). Been there, done that. This hobby doesn't do much for your perceptions of women or real relationships. It basically teaches you to treat women as sex dispensing machines. Civilian sex is basically just a women letting you go to the bathroom inside of her in exchange for emotional currency. If you can manipulate her emotions, you get the cookie. After a number of failed relationships, I don't think I can ever have a real emotional connection with a woman, but more importantly I'm experienced enough to know that you can't trust them anyways. I also feel ashamed that I lost my virginity to an escort, any woman would black ball me if she ever knew that. I have learned one thing about relationships though, if you want to keep a woman happy, learn how to lie about your true feelings. Also, never tell any woman your fears or insecurities. She will leave you for someone who appears emotionally stronger. I know this will all come across as very cynical, but at your age you might as well be brutally realistic about relationships.
I appreciate the fact that my story resonates with you, but based on the therapy that I have undergone, the deep friendships that I have (including friendships with awesome women), my family, and others, I completely disagree with your statement about never telling any woman my fears or insecurities. I think that, within the context of a healthy relationship, whether it's a friendship or a romantic relationship, sharing fears and insecurities are necessary, within reason, and gradually, as the relationship evolves.
What's more, I am very close to my mother, my therapist is a woman, and many of my yoga coaches are women that I share a number of my fears and insecurities with.
I want to be in a romantic relationship with an interesting, psychologically integrated woman that knows herself as well as I know myself, that accepts me for who I am (insecurities and all), and that enjoys my company, interests, and other aspects of my life.
I don't lie about my feelings -- not to myself, or to others. I am authentic, I am honest, I am direct, I set clear boundaries, and working with a therapist, and being part of the Codependents Anonymous fellowship, and having a number of meaningful friendships has helped me in that regard.
I share my insecurities with my female friends all the time, and they're still around. I share my insecurities with my male friends all the time, and they're still around. And it goes the other way around, as well.
I definitely have anxiety, I have had depression, and my dating life has yet to flourish, but you seem a lot more cynical than me, and your perspectives on women, and your experiences with them, outside of the escorting world, are far different than mine, at least from my perspective.
Furthermore, I did not lose my virginity to an escort, and I have dated many women, even though being in a long-term relationship with a woman for more than four months has been a challenge, due to my own insecurities. I am ready to move forward though.
In terms of HPV, have you been tested for it?