Hi everyone,
Relationship for 4.5 years, I have adult children he has pre teens, we moved into together after 2 years but argued continuously, he’s very stubborn and closed off, I'm very open and sensitive. We initially broke up when I moved out but then made another go of it, I’m very independent so was happy to have my own space.
At the start of the relationship we spoke about next steps, marriage etc. This has been not discussed since, we have never been a partnership, money kept separate and if I dared to speak about the future it would be shot down, always been told to keep a lid on my feelings.
The past year he has started to struggle with his mental health, traumatic events in his life have finally caught up with him at 52, he’s ended up on sick leave from work for months and on medication, throughout this time I have done everything I can to support, listened, acts of service and a huge amount of patience, I have been used as a punching bag throughout the last 6 months (not physically, just mentally). His anger and frustration has been directly squarely at me and it’s worn me down, he makes me anxious and on edge. We no longer are intimate, this was a massive part of our relationship before. Ten days ago he asked for space to get better as he didn’t feel he was doing that, he told me he loved me and would be in touch in a couple of days, I replied, I agree, take care. I have heard nothing since. I’m not climbing the walls with heartbreak or worry and in all honesty felt a sense of relief for the first few days, I now do not know what to do, I want to end the relationship but feel uncomfortable doing so when he’s so unwell, on the other hand I want to give him the opportunity to feel better and maybe acknowledge me and try and fix things?
I haven’t contacted him as respected his wishes for space but could really do with different perspectives please? And advice 😊💜