Buckle up, everyone: there’s a “new” dating trend going around, and it’s sabotaging healthy connections before they even have the chance to form. Labeled “puffer-fishing,” this pattern has actually been around for quite some time, and it’s certainly not a new concept—but it might explain why you’re still single.  Let’s dive right in with the puffer fish. Videos by VICE What Is Puffer-Fishing in Dating? Puffer-fishing is a dating trend in which someone lashes out or pushes others away when they get too close. “‘Puffer-fishing’ is essentially emotional self-protection masked as avoidance, chaos, or mixed signals,” says Lisa Chen, LMFT, relationship expert and founder of Lisa Chen & Associates , a group boutique practice specializing in relationships. “This is a common occurrence with those who are avoidantly attached. Avoidantly attached individuals desire connection, but their nervous system starts to interpret intimacy as pressure or a loss of control.…