Now that I've got a few years sober and I've dated and recently remarried in recovery, this is my thought......
Can I keep my emotions separate from my recovery? Can I casually date someone but still stay focused on sobriety, or will my emotions and feelings trigger me in any way to turn back to my addictions?
Yes, I think it's possible to date someone casually. Personally the best thing I've learned is how to have a friendship with someone, then try dating them. My wife was my best friend, no matter what happened I always wanted her to be my best friend. It was a process of learning that I could accept hurt, fear, and other emotions without feeling the need to numb them with a drink or drug. That was a new experience for me.