Am I holding onto nothing?

[lifeisyellow]

Hi. I've been seeing a lovely man for 5 months. I know it's early days but I really liked him, in fact if I'm honest I've fallen for him.

I know he does suffer from bouts of depression, but last week he suddenly told me he needed time and space. This was after we had had a wonderful weekend together. I was surprised as before this we were always in touch and he used to tell me how much he liked me, so I was surprised he suddenly needed time and space. He then told me he was scared because he feels like he has fallen in love with me and feels overwhelmed and his head is all over the place.

I am completely confused. I know his friends are also struggling to get through to him at the moment. But last week (after saying he needed time and space) he then sent me my favourite chocolates. What's that all about?

Just wondered if anyone had any similar experiences. I know there's nothing much I can do given he's asked for time and space, and no one can say if he'll come back so to speak, but I am really am gutted as could see a potential future with him.

Thanks for reading.

If you can see a future with him it would have to be while living with these black cloud periods where he will need space.
Think very carefully before you fall any further.

@KangarooKenny thank you for replying. I completely agree, my best friend suffers from severe depression and I know how dark it can get. She is actually in the midst of it at the moment otherwise I'd have asked for her thoughts.

I know no one can say if he'll come back or not, and I want to hold on for him, but at the same time I'm worried he's just gone off me.

I dont think he has gone off, he sent you chocolate as a gesture that he is still thinking of you but he will regularly need time alone like that so I personally would expect that the relationship if it were to continue might benefit from living separately to accommodate for his need of space.
I'd give him a couple of weeks of space and see the lay of the land.

Thanks @itsallmuch2much I guess I'm just struggling with going from speaking all day every day and meeting up etc to nothing. If I knew it was genuinely just depression induced I could cope with that, but I'm struggling with the wondering if it is me side of things. Before he told me that he felt he was falling for me he had told me he didn't know if we had a future anymore because he felt so overwhelmed - that's the bit I am struggling with (sorry that was a key but I should have addedd in the OP). It's just completely different from this time last week, I don't get how someone can suddenly change. Ah the vulnerabilities of dating!