My 18 year old DD has been in a relationship for 15 months. He was the year above her at school and he left last year. He was her first love and whilst they were both at school I think it was great. However, since he left school, his life has shrunk significantly and he has become very dependent on DD.
He was the only one of his friends not to go travelling or to university. He has a full-time job and he works really hard but it is quite an isolating job and, to be honest, his employers are cowboys and it's not going anywhere. He has no real interests - he stopped playing sports when he left school and has never gone back to it. He spends his spare time gaming.
His mental health is also not great. I know he had some significant problems in his late teens and I know that DD worries about him. This is not helped by the fact that his parents seemed to absolve themselves of the responsibility of any parenting when he turned 18. He is a very lost soul.
DD is in the final year of her A'Levels, so about to start exams. She wants to go to uni in September. I think she has come to the realisation that this is not the relationship she wants long term. He's a really lovely boy but to be honest I don't think she respects him and doesn't see a future for them. However she's scared to end it. She doesn't know how and she's worried about the impact this will have on him. He doesn't have anyone else and she is so weighed down by the responsibility and is upset by the thought of hurting him.
How do I support her through this? I've told her it's like ripping a plaster and that it will hurt both of them but it will get better in time. What else can I do?