I think in the past I did my own version of that -the Miss Muffet female version - it was when I was coming to terms with defining my sexual identity. (...and yes, I say with confidence that I have succeeded in creating a self for my self in this area)
Boys used to be where I got much of my self-esteem from. I'd have anxiety problems but I'd "use" men to boost my social status.
Then along came this particular boy (who himself was somewhat the sexual devil ...not that bad, though, so don't worry :wink: ) And things sort of clashed somewhat. And I was left with a real conflict of interest: on the one had I truly loved him, and on the other hand I all but lost my trust in men. Then I got a bit jaded and went on my own little feminist mission. ...About this time, it was that I had gone from blissfully secure to arrogant, cocky (is that the word?) and out-to-prove my self, to completely insecure. And somehow I made it through.
Then I gradually got less and less arrogant and more and more confident. ...which, for a while, I was confused as to the difference.
At about this point, when I was reasonably secure again, I sort of did my own (girl?) version of what you're describing.
Only I was more of a 'wanker' in how I thought - but it was like a process, you see. And, like I said, I was still cocky and arrogant, but getting less so and more secure. But I'd sill meet the same types of men. ...And partly as a result of my meeting them, the little confidence I had acquired grew more. And, like I said, then I kind of got bored of proving my self.
And I noticed that during this time, my social anxiety had diminished. Whatever anxious aspect within me was somehow chanelled and focussed into 'men' etc... (I find this to be true in general; like when I am being artistic, my anxiety slips away. Or when I have some clear focus, it helps to bring me control in an easy/ier way.) But, then, because I got bored with the whole 'Who am I?' question regarding sexuality, that energy behind anxiety crept back. And chanelling it into 'men' just seemed phoney for me now that I had found all the pieces of that puzzle.
And that is sort of where I find my self now.
...I'm good with men though. Kind of like I lived and then I died and then I came alive again. I kind of know a lot of the time how to have fun without taking my self or anyone else too seriously or not seriously enough.