Stopping is true, but it can be dicey, if you simply stop trying and start denying any attempts at relationships, you'll be pushing others away and it can potentially lead to some social or moral consequences down the line. It's very much about finding the people you trust and choosing your cards carefully, you wouldn't want 100 random friends, you'd want maybe 2 or 3 great friends. In terms of relationships as a couple, it's very true that years can be lost so easily but then they probably don't deserve your care and happiness. If they require a pedestal from you to respect you, then they're not the right person.
Honestly, it's for the best that the relationship that I'm mourning over is broken. That group was causing me nothing but stress and mental torment with no end in sight.