Low Self-Esteem and Personal Growth • brooklynstella • 4d ago

My boyfriend [M20] stopped making me feel valued [F20].

My boyfriend and I have been together for nearly a year. We started as best friends, and I was upfront about my needs from the beginning. I carry some trauma and often feel insecure, but I’ve always tried my best for him. Initially, he offered me a lot of reassurance and treated me wonderfully. In the early days of our relationship, he would call me to play guitar, which I adore, and he often shared my pictures online and volunteered to pay for our dates. Before we were officially dating, he would stay up late talking with me, surprise me with flowers, and sing to me. However, since we became a couple, everything seems to have changed. He often makes excuses about not being able to stay on the phone with me. He no longer plays the guitar, has only given me flowers once since we started dating, and rarely offers to cover the cost of our outings; we usually split the bill or I end up paying for everything. I don’t mind paying, but it feels unfair since he spends significantly more on video games and other things. I just want to feel special. Our relationship is kept secret from our parents for personal reasons, and sometimes his parents stay in his room, which I understand limits our conversations. But this happens several times a month for several days, meaning I hardly get to speak with him. When he’s alone in his room, he often claims to be too tired to talk and goes straight to bed. He didn’t even get me flowers for Valentine’s Day, despite the heartfelt gifts I made for him. I struggle with severe panic attacks and sometimes need support, so I reached out to him a few days ago, but he replied, “I can’t talk; my alarm won’t go off.” He didn’t even ask why I called. Whenever I try to express how I’m feeling, he just apologizes, cries, and pleads with me not to leave him. I feel so unloved. I’m unsure what to do.


silentice35 • 4d ago
It sounds really tough to feel undervalued and unheard, especially after starting off so strong. It’s important to communicate your feelings without blaming him—focus on how his actions affect you. Set aside time to talk about your needs and boundaries. If he continues to struggle with engaging, it might be worth considering if this relationship aligns with your emotional needs. Remember, you deserve to feel valued and supported. Trust your instincts!