Hey everyone, I would really appreciate some advice but I feel like maybe I know the answer 😢
I'm 19 and met my boyfriend (27) last year and really felt swept off my feet. We have so much in common and had so much fun until very recently. He had always given so much time to me but he started being more distant and when I asked if I did something wrong he said he'd been neglecting the friends he games with for me since we started dating six months ago and was struggling to manage his online gaming friends with our relationship.
I knew he enjoyed games but I didn't realise he'd been cutting back so much to spend time with me, and it kind of shocked me how he was comparing me to his gaming. He has admitted that he thinks his gaming is problematic, he only drinks when he games and often says that gaming makes him feel stressed, angry, lonely and depressed. With me he says he is the happiest he's ever been, we go out, have fun, live!
But tonight he told me that he loves me and gaming equally and he doesn't feel he can choose between us. I was pretty shaken by this, from reading up on it I understand that it's a very real addiction and is causing detriment to his life. He admits it's a problem, so I'm struggling to know what to do. He also really wants us to have a baby, get married etc. and very soon. These are things I want too but I know I'm young and all of this is scaring me that he could on one hand be so loving and caring but also say he values me the same as something that is causing him so much harm?
I've never gamed, I know I don't understand what he gets out of it and I want him to have his own interests and friends. Is it hopeful that he kind of recognises it's a problem or should I exit before things get more complicated?