I’m devastated – the woman I have fallen for has been on date with another guy

DEAR DEIDRE: A WOMAN I’ve fallen in love with told me she went on a date with another man. I am so demoralised and upset.

I’m a 52-year-old married man. My wife’s 48.

We’ve been together for 20 years and have two teenagers aged 16 and 18.

I’m studying with the Open University and am on a WhatsApp group chat with at least 80 other people on the same course.

One of the women on the course was struggling so I’m helping her out.

We haven’t met face-to-face but she looks gorgeous in her profile picture.

She’s in her late 30s. I’ve become quite attached and feel emotional about her.

We text daily but after I heard nothing back from her after one particular message, she told me she’d been on a date. I was really jealous.

I thought perhaps she liked me. I was secretly hoping the messages could develop into something more.

Learning about her date has knocked me. I’ve become obsessed and infatuated with her. I’m smitten.

DEIDRE SAYS: You are experiencing a huge crush but you need to be careful about mistaking it for love.

It’s normal to be attracted to other people, even when you’re committed to someone else, but it doesn’t mean you should act on these feelings.

Take a step back from this woman and turn your attention to your wife.

Remind yourself what you’ve got to lose.