Had a heart to heart with a friend the other evening and she confessed she is miserable. She's in a loveless/sexless relationship. No abuse, but no love and affection either. Of course my initial advice was to end it but, they live in his house. On my advice she looked into what financial help she could get if she left. She does work full time but in a minimum wage role. Long story short, she just can't make it financially if she moves out as rents are just so high. She's in her 50's with some health issues and already struggles a fair bit with the full time job, so taking on another part time job on top is out of the question. She would be happy with a small 1 bed place but she said mentally she couldn't cope with a bedsit at her age, which I do understand, plus she often has the GC to stay and not being able to do that would depress her more than staying put. I just feel so sad for her but I don't know what else to suggest. Unfortunately we no longer live near each other, otherwise I'd just let her come and stay with me. But as I say, her GC are where she is now and she couldn't leave them.
Apparently she did try talking to her partner about all this before we spoke. But, in short, his response was that he was happy enough with things as they are and he isn't going to change! If there is any other way to help her, I can't see it. It just breaks my heart that she's stuck living with someone who makes her feel sad and lonely. I see LTB given as advice on here all the time, I've said it myself. But I don't see how she can?