Relationship advices

Long-Term Relationships and Marriage • 1mo ago

Should I stay or leave?...

I'm a 32-year-old man in a 4.5-year relationship with a 28-year-old woman. When we first began dating, I didn't experience the “butterflies” that I had felt in previous relationships. Despite this, I chose to move forward because we share similar values, political views, interests, a mutual physical attraction, and have great chemistry in bed. On the surface, it seems promising, right? Now we're at a pivotal point—it's either time to get married and start a family or break up and begin anew. She is deeply in love with me and experienced those butterflies from the very beginning. In many ways, she is the ideal partner—loving, nurturing, would be an excellent mother, and is financially stable. We have much in common, including a passion for psychology, visiting museums, and enjoying nature. Both of us desire families and children. However, I find myself grappling with doubts about whether she is truly the right match for me. I've grown fond of her and cherish the time we spend together when work isn't wearing me out. I feel stuck at a crossroads. I never envisioned being my age and contemplating starting over. The thought of becoming an older dad is daunting if I choose to begin again now. While I love and care for her deeply, and she would undoubtedly make a wonderful mother, I can't shake the concern about the absence of those initial butterflies. I'm anxious that this lack of excitement might lead to problems in the future.


Toxic Relationships • 1mo ago

Is it time for me to end my relationship with my boyfriend?

I'm a 21-year-old woman, and I've been dating my boyfriend, also 21, for nearly a year. Until recently, we hadn't said "I love you" to each other. I started getting a sense that something was off. Early in our relationship, he shared that he had a toxic on-and-off relationship with another girl, which lasted three months on, six months off, then back on for another three. He claimed he loved her but ended it, and she never forgave him. He’s been in one other serious relationship that I know of, where he really liked the girl, but she broke things off because he wasn’t expressing his feelings enough. The other night, I told him I loved him, but he didn’t say it back. Deep down, I expected that response, even though I hoped he would say it back. He opened up more about his past relationships and mentioned he hasn't said "I love you" yet because he wants to be sure. Now that I see all of this written down, I can’t help but feel a little pathetic. He's my first boyfriend, so I don't have anything else to compare this experience to. I'm feeling lost because I love him and want to make things work, but I’m not sure what to do. I've been loyal and supportive, but I'm starting to wonder how much more I can do. Aside from this, our relationship is actually pretty great. We have fun together, can be ourselves, and enjoy our time together. I just can't shake the feeling that he might be hiding something from me. I’m torn because I know he struggles emotionally, and I feel like I’m just hanging on. Is it worth having another conversation about this? He still follows that second girl on almost all platforms. I feel so confused and a bit foolish about everything.


Breakups and Divorces • 1mo ago

I (28, male) would like to reconcile with my girlfriend (25, female).

I ended my relationship with her two years ago, but I still have feelings for her. There's no one else that I feel any connection with. While I live in Surat and she’s in Mumbai, we do manage to stay in touch. Our conversations are infrequent but pleasant, and she never turns down an invitation to meet up. I genuinely believe there’s a chance for us to be together again. Perhaps she’s also waiting for that opportunity, but I haven’t spoken to her with any expectations. However, I’m determined to make one final effort to rekindle what we once had. Over the next six months, I plan to give it my all. I want to spend time with her, go out, and watch movies together as much as possible. I’m considering moving to Mumbai for this time. When I feel the moment is right, I’ll ask her directly for clarity. I’m prepared to accept whatever response I receive. So, I’m wondering if this is the right approach or if I should let go. I would appreciate your guidance.


Infidelity • 1mo ago

Reposting: I found my husband's Craigslist listing.

I, a 35-year-old woman, recently went through my husband's phone. We've been together for eight years and married for four. Initially, we were long distance, and I always believed we had a strong relationship. I viewed him as my soulmate, and he has consistently treated me like royalty. A couple of weeks ago, while playing around with his old phone, my curiosity got the better of me, and I started looking at his emails. I discovered numerous messages from adult sites, which prompted me to check his sent emails. To my shock, I found messages from the first year we were together where he had posted a Craigslist ad seeking a friends-with-benefits arrangement, complete with a nude photo. This was during the time we had officially been together for six months, and he continued to respond to messages for about three months. Although it seems like nothing substantial came of it—he eventually stopped replying—I can’t shake the feeling of betrayal. When I asked him if he had pursued other women during our long-distance phase, he insisted he hadn’t. He used to drink heavily, which might explain why he doesn’t recall everything, but it still hurts. He’s my best friend, and I’m heartbroken. This happened eight years ago, and I haven’t uncovered anything else to cause suspicion. Should I let it go or confront him? If I do bring it up, how should I approach the conversation? I can’t stop crying. Additionally, just to add context, we were long-distance for the first five years of our relationship, and we have always been open about checking each other's phones before. I've discovered he has an email account where he messaged women in 2019, asking them to send nudes and other explicit content. He also had multiple Tinder accounts, with one being very recent. When I confronted him, he claimed that he was drinking heavily at the time and that many of his actions are a blur to him, but that still doesn’t justify his choices. I thought we were doing well together, even through tough times. He assures me his actions weren’t about me and that they were just poor decisions, but it feels like a pattern over the years. A week has passed since I asked to see the Tinder accounts, and with everything going on, I haven’t pushed for them yet. Furthermore, I’ve noticed he has been quite flirtatious with female friends, which bothers me. I can’t stop dwelling on everything, and it has shifted how I view him. I find myself comparing myself to other women and feeling inadequate, like I’m just an option. I’m at a loss for how to move past this, and I’m deeply hurt.


Low Self-Esteem and Personal Growth • 1mo ago

Setting Healthy and Appropriate Boundaries for Individuals with Anxious Attachment: 21F & 21M

I'm a 21-year-old female currently in a new relationship. We started seeing each other in September and officially became a couple in November. My previous long-term relationship was unhealthy and led me to develop an anxious attachment style. After that, I spent a year single focusing on rebuilding my independence and healing from a lot of trauma. However, as I navigate this new relationship, I notice some anxious tendencies resurfacing—overthinking, questioning every detail, and overanalyzing conversations. I recognize that this isn't healthy, and I believe that getting an outsider's perspective or reassurance might help me view things more clearly, rather than allowing my thoughts and emotions to spiral. Many examples of relationships in my life have been quite negative, the most significant being my parents' tumultuous relationship, marked by my father's abusive behavior. This background has definitely distorted my perception of what a healthy relationship looks like. I often find myself wondering how frequently couples should see each other. Right now, we meet 1-2 times a week and text at least once a day, even if it's just a brief message. Is inconsistent communication really a major red flag if the other person is genuinely busy? Sometimes my partner's responses can take hours, while on other days he's quick to reply. With both of us being university students during finals season, studying often takes priority. We rarely talk on the phone; we text daily, but phone calls are extremely rare. I previously came from a relationship where my partner wanted to be in constant contact, spending every day together and engaging in long conversations. This has affected how I perceive my current relationship dynamics. For anyone else who has experienced anxious attachment in past relationships, how did you cope in your new relationships? What strategies or approaches worked for you?


Trust and Jealousy • 1mo ago

Does this qualify as cheating?

My boyfriend and I have been together for a year while still in high school, and he’s involved in a lot of extracurricular activities, like sports. However, he recently became very busy and has had less time for me. He keeps apologizing but hasn’t made any changes to address the situation. One day, I noticed he was talking to someone he called a friend. I asked him about it, and he assured me it was nothing. I chose to trust him. As the months went by, the issue of him not having time for me persisted. Then I heard from someone that he attended an event I wasn’t aware of, where they played a game that involved confessing crushes. Apparently, he and this friend both admitted to having feelings for each other, all while we were still together. What should I do?


Work-Life Balance • 1mo ago

My boyfriend (22M) keeps falling asleep whenever I'm with him.

I realize I might come across as insensitive for saying this, but here it goes. He’s on night shifts, which I totally get as I work late too, often until around midnight or 1 AM. I chose this schedule because my store is closed at night, and I thought it would align better with his sleep pattern. We agreed that it would help him stay awake, or at least be less overtired when he comes over to my place. Currently, we don’t have our own place, so I’m living with my parents. I can’t stay at his place anymore because I have an elderly cat who is very attached to me and refuses to eat unless I’m around. Whenever he visits, it feels like 80% of the time he’s either asleep or too worn out to engage with me. I struggle to empathize with this because I handle tiredness very well. I can easily pull an all-nighter and go to work and still seem fine, which I’ve done several times. I may feel a bit off, but I tend to act and perform just as usual. It’s frustrating because it feels like we hardly have any quality time together. I’ve brought this up with him several times, but the situation hasn’t improved. I know he can’t control falling asleep, so I try not to make a big deal out of it. What puzzles me is how he manages to stay awake at his home before and after work, yet appears unable to do so when he's at mine. At his place, he interacts normally with his family and is an engaging person, but when he’s with me, he seems less present, even when he’s awake. I've been hoping this would change for months. We had originally agreed he would stay awake when he came over, then sleep later after I went to bed, and keep that routine until his next work shift. However, he now just sleeps whenever he feels like it, while I’m usually wide awake. He’ll sleep at night when I sleep, nap in the morning when I’m up, and then again in the evening when I’m free. I don’t know how to help him; he apologizes for it, and I feel for him because it’s clear he’s exhausted, but it's really starting to wear on me.


Communication Problems • 1mo ago

My girlfriend (24) and I (28) are planning to move in together in the next few months. What logistical considerations should we keep in mind?

As a straight man, I’ve only lived with one girlfriend in the past, and our move-in experience was lacking in communication. We made the decision to live together due to leaving university, and it ultimately led to a lot of resentment. Now, with my current girlfriend, we’ve been together for 1.5 years and have chosen to live separately the whole time—she’s in a house share, and I’m living with a friend. Our relationship is very healthy, with open and honest communication. I want to make sure that I consider any differences that might arise from changing our current living situations, as I don’t want to repeat the same mistakes as before. My goal is to reach a point where our journey together culminates in a ring and a shared future.


Infidelity • 1mo ago

Assistance needed?

I've been with my current partner (28M) for nearly four years, and I recently found out that he has been cheating on me since the beginning. He hasn’t been physical with anyone, but he’s used apps like Badoo and Badoo. The latest incident occurred in December 2023, and he insists he hasn’t done anything since then. He just joined the Air Force, and we're currently in a long-distance relationship. He keeps telling me that he’s a changed man. We share an email account, and I stumbled upon Google My Activity, which tracks the websites and apps he has accessed. To my shock, less than 24 hours after he got his phone, he was already on Tinder, Badoo, and other dating apps. I confronted him with screenshots, but he claims he connected to faulty Wi-Fi on base and that it must be a virus, insisting that he didn’t visit those sites. However, all other activity clearly shows it was him. I know he’s lying. I’m trying to figure out how to bring this up again when I see him in two weeks. Please don’t judge; we’ve all been in difficult relationships that are tough to leave. Thanks for any advice.


Sexual Problems and Intimacy • 1mo ago

I, a 20-year-old male, discovered that my girlfriend, who is 23, has been intimate with over 100 people and may be cheating on me.

Hi there, We've been in a relationship for six months, and recently she mentioned that she's not fully satisfied in our intimate life. She suggested that I should try using a sleeve, which was really upsetting to hear. I've always considered myself to be of average size, so I was surprised to learn that I hadn't met her needs. To make things more complicated, I found out that she's been with over 100 people in the past, and while she insists she’s never cheated on me, I discovered some texts that are making me question everything. What should I do?


Toxic Relationships • 1mo ago

Transforming a Toxic Relationship into a Healthy One

I (17M) spent five years in a toxic relationship that ended with betrayal and abandonment. After taking some time to heal, I’ve been in a healthy relationship for three months. However, there are days when I find myself longing for the toxicity, almost as if I’m addicted to it. I was so accustomed to enduring verbal and physical abuse, along with gaslighting, that I sometimes crave that dynamic, even though I don’t want to return to it. I’m concerned that these feelings might jeopardize my current relationship, especially since I often felt like a punching bag in my past one. Is it possible for a healthy relationship to become unhealthy for someone like me? How can I overcome these cravings?


Sexual Problems and Intimacy • 1mo ago

Was I (19M) feeling nervous before being intimate with my partner (23F), or was it something different?

I've been chatting with this girl (24F) for a few weeks, and a few nights ago, she invited me over to her place after we finished playing games. I had never experienced anything like that before, so I was incredibly nervous even before I left my house. Everything went well at her place until we started to get more physical, but I struggled to get aroused. I'm trying to determine if it was just my nerves or if there was something else at play. I should mention that this was my first time being intimate with someone, and I think it was mostly anxiety, but I’m too anxious not to seek a second opinion.


Sexual Problems and Intimacy • 1mo ago

My husband wants me to be intimate with others at his request.

**Summary**: My husband wants me to be open and accepting while allowing him control over my sexual encounters — specifically, who I hook up with and when. I’m 24, and he’s 26; we’ve been married for eight years and have kids together. We've had two threesomes (MFM), with one being enjoyable and the other less so. While I'm open to trying again, my husband’s approach is to spring it on me, which feels like he wants complete control, and that makes me anxious. I prefer to have discussions and boundaries in place, especially since I struggle with anxiety. I want to be more open to the idea, but I also want to communicate my boundaries effectively. I’m looking for advice on navigating this situation and how to express my discomfort when it comes to his demands.


Communication Problems • 1mo ago

What in the world is happening?

My girlfriend encouraged me to buy a house a year earlier than I had planned. I wanted to wait because I felt it would be better to reduce my credit card debt and increase my savings first. Additionally, I was curious about the raise I might receive this year. When I expressed this, she got upset, saying she was tired of living in our apartment. As a result, I ended up covering all the costs for the new house. Later that evening, I took three of our cats to the vet for their vaccinations. She didn’t want to stop by the apartment before heading to the new house to start assembling the furniture I had paid for because her car was broken, which was a separate issue altogether. I had taken a look at her car, gave her my opinion about the problem, but she chose to trust someone at work who claimed to know more. When we arrived at the house and started putting together the furniture, one of our cats stayed close to me, while the other two were hiding. Eventually, we found them jammed into a small space next to the fridge. I put them in a separate room to give them a safe place to hide, but she let them out again, and they returned to their hiding spot. After four hours, I was thirsty, and I noticed the cats were stressed, so I suggested we return home for drinks and to let the cats settle down. She told me she was too tired to make the trip, but I insisted I would take the cats back since they were uncomfortable. She managed to convince me to help her assemble a couple more chairs, but we discovered the legs were mismatched. Even after that, I reiterated my plan to leave, and she suggested just picking her up later. Eventually, she understood and came with me, but then she blamed me for leaving an upstairs light on, which I ignored while turning off the porch light that I hadn’t touched all night. We drove home in silence. Now, she’s gone to bed early and isn’t talking to me. What did I do wrong?


Work-Life Balance • 1mo ago

My boyfriend's fishing hobby (he's 23) is starting to annoy me (I'm 23). Am I being unreasonable?

My boyfriend and I have been together for three years now. Our lives are quite busy, and we usually spend time together from Sunday to Friday. We share meals and sleep together before I head off to my internship and he goes to work. On Friday nights, I go to my parents’ house, which is about an hour away, to work on Saturday. I often return on Saturday night, but sometimes I come back on Sunday. There have been instances where his fishing habits have caused some tension in our relationship. When I bring it up, he often responds with, "Yeah, but..." and I usually end up letting it go. Fortunately, he has been fishing less frequently in recent years, so it hasn't been as much of an issue for me. However, lately, he has started making more plans to go fishing again. Since he works on Saturdays, he tries to find some free time during the week, but unfortunately, it never aligns with my schedule. For several weeks, he has promised to look for a day when we can hang out together, but I’ve been left waiting, hoping we can enjoy some time as a couple. Today, I'm home sick, and yesterday he told me he was free today and had already arranged to go fishing. I said that was fine, but now I’ve found out he won't be back until after dinner. He left early this morning at 6, and I'm feeling irritated. I haven’t heard from him all day and feel uncertain about where we stand. I had hoped he would return a bit earlier, even though I recognize that being sick limits what we could do together. Still, I'm disappointed, especially after waiting so long for that promised time together. Am I being unreasonable for feeling this way? I'm starting to doubt myself, especially since I haven't been feeling like myself lately.


Sexual Problems and Intimacy • 1mo ago

Experiencing a decline in my feelings for my girlfriend.

I'm a 19-year-old guy in a relationship with my 19-year-old girlfriend. We've been together for just over two years, having met in high school. I genuinely care about her, and our families have been supportive of our relationship, helping each other with various life challenges. I’ve always been active and compete in martial arts, so I stay in good shape. When I first met her, I found her incredibly attractive. However, since starting university, she has gained some weight and feels self-conscious about her body. It’s reached a point where she prefers to wear a shirt during intimate moments, and I haven't seen her waist or hips in over a year, which I find particularly attractive in women. I understand that my feelings about her body are my problem, and I recognize that I haven't been very body positive. Despite my efforts to remain attracted to her, I find myself drawn to other fit girls who share my interests. While my girlfriend has started going to the gym, she hasn't made significant changes, and her appearance hasn't improved much. I'm unsure how to approach this topic with her, as I'm worried that if I mention her weight in a negative light, it might lead to a confrontation. I acknowledge that I'm not handling this situation well, and I understand any frustrations with my perspective. I'm looking for advice on how to discuss this sensitively without hurting her feelings.


Long-Term Relationships and Marriage • 1mo ago

Should I take a job I don't enjoy and live with my girlfriend, or pursue a job I’m more passionate about and do long-distance? (21M)

**My Situation**: I’m nearing the end of my senior year in college and have received job offers in both New York and California. I would prefer the position in California, as it’s closer to my family—just a 30-minute drive from where I will be working. In contrast, while the New York job isn’t terrible, the city feels incredibly overwhelming for me when I visit. **Our Situation**: My girlfriend and I have been in a long-distance relationship since the end of high school, totaling 3.5 years. Naturally, we want to live together, but she plans to work in New York for a year before pursuing graduate school for 4-5 years. This means we could only live together for that brief year, assuming she secures a job there (which I’m also worried about). I’ve shared my preference for the California position, which has upset her, and now I feel confused about how to move forward. On one hand, I’m eager to live with her in New York, but if it’s only for a year, what happens when she goes to grad school? I’d be left in New York without her, which feels like a major reason to accept that job in the first place. Meanwhile, the California opportunity seems promising career-wise and would put me closer to my family, but that distance could strain our relationship, potentially leading to a breakup. I need advice on how to navigate this situation, as I have to make a decision in **three days.**


Trust and Jealousy • 1mo ago

I was eavesdropping.

M26 So, bear with me—I realize I shouldn’t have been checking her phone, but it drew me in like the Green Goblin mask. I picked it up and opened Snapchat, where I noticed she had a conversation with a guy from two weeks ago that I’ve never heard of. I opened it, but there was nothing there, so I scrolled through and found a bunch of videos of this guy that she had saved. They were all from before we started dating, but it unsettles me that she was in contact with him so recently. I know I shouldn’t have snooped, but given that we’ve been together for over six months, should I be worried? What do you think I should do next?


Sexual Problems and Intimacy • 1mo ago

My boyfriend spoke to me disrespectfully.

**Did My Boyfriend (18M) Really Mean What He Said About My Body (18F)?** My boyfriend and I are approaching our one-year anniversary soon. I've always struggled with insecurities regarding my labia. Last night, after a sweet moment where he was rubbing my feet—something he knows I love—our conversation took a turn. While we were still naked, he suddenly asked, “Have you ever thought about doing something about these?” while pointing to my labia. I tried to brush it off and admitted that I had considered it, mainly because sometimes the length makes cleanliness a challenge. I also explained that the surgery is risky and costly. Then he made a really hurtful joke comparing my labia to misformed, wrinkled balls, starting with “no offense,” which only made it worse. He has never commented negatively about my body before; he’s usually very affectionate and appreciative of me. The only thing he’s mentioned is that he finds my pubic hair a little uncomfortable due to its coarseness. So his comments about my labia caught me completely off guard. For context, I’ve battled severe body dysmorphia in the past and have even contemplated self-harm regarding my labia. While he didn't know the full extent of this, I had mentioned being self-conscious about it. Afterward, I explained how deeply his remarks affected me, and he sincerely apologized multiple times, expressing regret. He reassured me that he loves me as I am and wasn’t serious about suggesting any changes. He felt ashamed and wants to support my healing process. I told him I was hurt and needed time to come to terms with what happened. He has always been understanding and supportive, and considering that we are both neurodivergent, he is typically very accommodating to my needs. I genuinely want to forgive him, but I worry if he truly dislikes my labia and perhaps other aspects of my body. If he does feel that way, I’m unsure how I could feel comfortable being naked around him again. And if it was just a thoughtless joke, how can I move on, and how can he help me heal? **TL;DR:** My boyfriend made a hurtful joke about my labia after an intimate moment. He’s usually so kind and empowering, but now I’m concerned that he secretly dislikes my body. How can I understand his true feelings? If it was just a bad joke, how can I heal, and what can he do to support me?


Trust and Jealousy • 1mo ago

How can I request my boyfriend to stop bringing one of his friends around me?

I've been dating my boyfriend (24M) for 8 months, but our relationship is somewhat complicated due to our past from a situationship 6 years ago that lasted for 2 years before I cut off contact. We reconnected about 9 months ago, allowing me to reestablish friendships with some of his friends as well. Approximately 5 years ago, one of his friends (24M) asked me to accompany him to a party since he didn’t have a date. We were friends at the time, and I agreed under the condition that nothing inappropriate would happen. He assured me of that, claiming he’d never disrespect my boyfriend. However, later that night, while I was asleep, he decided to act differently and attempted to rub his erect penis against my back. I immediately rolled away, left before he woke up, and ended our friendship by removing him from all social media. When I confided in a girlfriend about this, she shared a similar experience with him, which helped me feel more determined to sever ties. Years later, I still had feelings for my current boyfriend and reached out to him. He was thrilled, and we eventually began dating. Early on, he mentioned his friend, which made me uneasy. I didn’t want to elaborate, so I simply expressed that I didn’t particularly like one of his friends. My boyfriend said he didn’t want to know any more details, so I left it at that. The friend moved abroad for a time, but he’s recently returned, and I’ve had to interact with him a few times. It’s been awkward; he acts as if we’re close despite our history. My boyfriend mentioned him in front of a mutual friend of ours who also had a negative experience with this guy, and when he suggested they would get along, my friend quickly said, “No, we don’t like [his name].” However, my boyfriend didn’t pick up on the hint and continued to speak highly of his friend. My friend believes I should tell my boyfriend the truth—that his friend isn’t as great as he thinks. I'm unsure how to approach this topic. I worry about potentially upsetting my boyfriend or making the conversation take a turn that could hurt me as well. I feel guilty for withholding this information, but I'm at a loss about what to do. Any advice on how to handle this situation?


Communication Problems • 1mo ago

My boyfriend (18M) has been acting distant lately, and I'm unsure how to handle it.

We've been together for almost six months now, but lately, he's been acting distant and unresponsive. It feels like he suddenly stopped expressing his affection—no more "I love you" or "I miss you," and his compliments have faded away. When I ask if he’s okay or if he still loves me, he reassures me that he does, but at times it seems like his feelings have changed. He doesn't initiate kisses like he used to, and instead, he just lies in my bed and falls asleep. When I check in on him, he simply says he’s tired. I'm a bit of an overthinker and I tend to need a lot of reassurance. Since I’ve been hearing "I love you" less often, it's really been weighing on me. I want to support him and I’m not ready to walk away, but I’m not sure how to address these feelings.


Dating and Starting Relationships • 1mo ago

Please assist me.

I recently started dating a girl I’ve had a crush on for a long time. Normally, I don’t consider myself an awkward person, but now I find myself feeling anxious about hugging and kissing her. I’m trying to understand why I feel this way. In my past relationships, I met my partners online and felt confident enough to be affectionate when we first met. However, this girl has been my best friend for nearly four years, and I wonder if that affects my nerves. I’m hoping to figure out why I feel so awkward and how I can overcome it.


Dating and Starting Relationships • 1mo ago

Do guys prefer virgin girls?

I'm 29 years old and still a virgin. I'm curious—do guys find this off-putting when they first meet a girl? Is it considered strange? I’d love to hear your opinions!


Dating and Starting Relationships • 1mo ago

Is the age difference inappropriate in high school?

To sum it up, I (16m) reached out to a girl (14f) without knowing her age; she initially seemed around my age. She first told me she was 16, which I believed, but later confessed she was actually 14. Here’s the dilemma: I usually don’t care much about what others think, as long as I’m comfortable with the person I'm with, but this situation has me feeling uncertain. She’s aware of my feelings for her—I’ve told her I think she’s beautiful since we started chatting. I really like her, but I’m unsure whether it’s socially acceptable for us to continue talking. While I generally disregard others' opinions about my choices, I’d like to hear some outside perspectives on this.


Low Self-Esteem and Personal Growth • 1mo ago

What causes men to lose interest?

Why? Why do men act this way? I need answers. I'm seriously considering ending my relationship with my first love (M17) while I (F18) feel so unlovable, almost as if I'm begging for affection at this point. I took a gap year after high school, while he completed his senior year. When we were in school together, we instantly connected; we fell head over heels for each other, spending entire days wrapped in each other’s arms in the park, laughing until dark. It was pure magic. We even took the step of losing our virginity to one another, marking this as a special sexual relationship. For me, it was incredibly meaningful, but for him, sex seemed to be less significant. I believe this was influenced by his heavy consumption of porn, which may have contributed to feelings of disappointment towards me. I'm flat-chested, and I know his type leans towards curvy girls, which makes me feel inadequate. Even though he knew my body type, he often made comments that hurt, like, “I can’t wait for you to hit the gym and get a nice butt,” or “It’s okay that you have no boobs; you can still grow a nice bum.” I should have recognized these as red flags from the start, but I dismissed them, thinking he simply didn’t know how to communicate well since he had never had a girlfriend before. Nonetheless, these remarks made me insecure. I often found myself comparing myself to the girls at school I saw him notice. Still, he seemed to genuinely love me and always wanted to be around me. Now, I’m starting to wonder if his feelings were genuine or if I was just convenient for him. He would send me pictures of other girls with comments like, “Do your makeup like this” or “Wear this,” and I began changing my style and music preferences and using more makeup than I ever had just to please him. But it was never enough. I expressed how these comments made me feel, and he always insisted he was just “trying to help,” a notion I accepted at the time despite my doubts. Fast forward a year into our relationship, and I started to notice a shift. He wasn’t communicating like he used to; the late-night calls and all-day conversations faded away. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off and began questioning where the boy who loved me had gone. I started asking if he was cheating, why he wasn’t reassuring me, and why he didn’t seem interested in making me happy. He would redirect the blame onto me, saying I was starting arguments and that I was the one causing trouble, insisting I shouldn't worry because he loved me. Then, a month later, he revealed he wanted a break because he found other girls attractive. My heart shattered; it confirmed all my fears and doubts. The very next day, he changed his mind, promising he’d never leave me and that he loved me deeply. I wanted to believe him, but my trust was shaken, and my insecurity kept me from walking away. But now, it feels even worse. He seems completely uninterested, hardly calls anymore, and it's shocking how indifferent he can be when I would give anything for him, despite how he's treated me. I feel lost. If I lose him, I can't bear the thought of seeing him move on with the very girls I worried about throughout our relationship. I’m doubting if I’ll ever find love again, and I’m confused. Why was I attractive to him in the first place if I don’t fit his ideal type? I feel completely heartbroken. Please, I need advice.