Should I stay or should I go?
I am looking for some advice, if anyone is willing to give me some.
Background info:
I am a female in my 20’s. I was married for a brief time to a man I was with for 6 years. I ended it due to his drinking problems that arose after our marriage. From the mental stress I was under during that period, I developed a lot of health problems including anxiety.
Fast forward a little bit, and I decide to jump back into the dating game. In hindsight, I wish I had stayed single longer. At the time, I think I was really searching for someone to be there for me. I’d never had that before. After a few unsuccessful dates, I met someone I clicked with.
Things moved very fast (honestly, I don’t know how I let it go so fast). Within a few months, he moved in with me. Things started off pretty solid. Then, my health issues began taking a huge toll on me. A year and a half into our relationship, he wanted me to quit my job so I could focus on getting better. I ended up doing so, even though I was hesitant to be so dependent on someone. After that, my social anxiety spiraled. My health deteriorated. I felt awful. He stayed with me through all of that, while paying the bills. I did everything around the house and that kind of stuff, but I felt worthless the whole time.
We’ve had some arguments over my avoidance of social situations, but other than that we didn’t/don’t argue. We have a lot of interests in common, probably more than most couples. Past the initial lust phase, our sex life has been non-existent (I am the one who is uninterested, he is always in the mood) for the almost 3 years we’ve been together. It’s put strain on our relationship at times.
Currently, I am almost all healthy. I am re-entering the work force and going back to school. I feel like a totally different person, like I’ve finally acquired the seeds to plant and find out what I bloom into.
My problem:
I don’t think I want to be with him anymore, but I am afraid that I could be making a bad decision.
For the past year, at least, I feel like my view of him has changed. In the lustful period, obviously I was super attracted to him. As any normal relationship goes, the lust waned, but I was expecting that. Later, I began looking at him as ‘that guy I care about who lives with me and sleeps in my bed’ instead of ‘my lover, partner, and friend who I’d work through anything to stay with’.
I am afraid to break it off because 1) I am scared to be on my own (contradictory to this, I am exhilarated at the thought as well) 2) Financially, I cannot afford my current situation by myself. In a month or two I should be able, though. 3) He has continuously stated (pretty much since he moved in with me) that he can’t be with anyone but me. He would never date anyone after me. No one would live up to me. (That should have been red flag number one, but y’know I’m only human.) I know that is not my fault that he feels that way or would choose that course if something happened, but it’s hard for me to think about him being hurt. Especially after everything he’s done for me. That brings me to the next thing. 4) I’d feel guilty for breaking it off after he’s done everything for me up until this point.
On one hand, I know I NEED to do what is right for ME. Not my parents, friends, or him for that matter. I feel like I am drifting apart from him, more and more with each day that passes. On the other hand, I fear that I am making a big mistake that I will regret. I feel in debt to him for what he has provided me. I could even see him hurting himself if I broke it off. But this part deep inside of me is crying to go out and explore the world. I haven’t been single for longer than a month since I started dating at age 14. I feel like I helped someone tape myself into a box. I think I’m ready to claw my way out, but I’m not sure enough at this point. Maybe the fear is keeping me from doing something really great for myself. Or maybe my relationship expectations are too high.
Sorry for the long post. It felt good to get it out there. I’d appreciate ANY advice. Thanks!