How do you all figure out when it would be better for you mentally to step back from something versus when to sort of push through the anxiety?

For context, I recently met this guy and we’ve been texting and he’s really nice and seems really into me, but I am having a ton of anxiety. Like every time he texts, I say out loud “oh crap”. He seems great and says really nice things but I feel like I have no idea how to respond to any of it. I suffered a pretty big loss recently, so between that and my anxiety, I just feel really unsure if I should go out with this guy and kind of push through the discomfort (bc regardless of when I start dating, there is going to be some discomfort and I’m going to struggle bc of my anxiety) or hit the pause button and work on myself a bit (when I say work on myself, I mean more practicing self care and building up my confidence).

But in general I feel like I struggle with this question of when to accept that I have anxiety and so some things will just feel more intense and uncomfortable versus knowing when I’ve reached my limit and need to take some time for myself. Does anyone else have this and if so, how to make that determination?