<human>: Hi!

I'm 27M and recently initiated with a 25F. I'm head-over-heels for her and we haven't really known each other for long (2-3 months). I keep trying to hold myself back and let emotions progress a bit more naturally. Things look promising though, there's a lot of mutual interest and what seems like auspicious compatibility.

One caveat is that I had previously been in a 4.5 years' relationship with another now 25F who was emotionally abusive. I had 0 self-respect and 0 self-esteem. I was cheated on and foolishly tried to work it out somehow. When I think about her and the past, I get sick to my stomach and want to vomit. She was overly critical of everything about me, even when I was desperate to please her. She criticized my looks, my body, my finances, my everything. She was just critical. I soaked it up because I always try to achieve my best, but after a while, I felt I just couldn't please her.

I had to go through therapy once we broke it off. I discovered that I had an overly self-critical inner voice which constantly filled me with doubt and humiliation. I've since practiced self-love to a greater degree and it has turned my life around 100%. I've always been a worrier, an exceptional planner, and a futurist. I do have a tendency to be "drowned in thought" and overthink things, which creates that anxiety in my heart.

So, since I rebuilt courage and compassion, I saw this girl and felt initially very attracted and introduced myself to her. We've been on a couple dates which seemed to go well. But, already, I'm feeling a nagging sense of anxiety about things. I'm worried that if I lose my go-with-the-flow mentality, things are going to fall apart.

Am I ready for this? Are there things I'm forgetting to do here? I feel such happiness thinking about her and yet, I have this spectre of worry that's haunting my mind.

Can you give me a shortened version of the text?
<bot>: new relationship prospects tainted by emotional wounds from previous abusive long term partner. want to know if i'm overreacting or not ready, and others' coping strategies.