this post was submitted on 16 Sep 2025
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submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by Zeon@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world
 

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[โ€“] Zeon@lemmy.world 8 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

If I didn't love myself, I would've stayed in this relationship. She was not my source of happiness. I learned to let go of her, even if that meant losing my first potential girlfriend.

I believe I am ready for a real relationship, just not with her. It was complete mental torture.

[โ€“] sartalon@lemmy.world 20 points 1 week ago

There are so many examples in your post where you place her above you and she is not equal in that return.

It is challenging, especially when you think of things like, "Love means sacrifice, or hard work." And those statements are not wrong, but they are also easy mechanisms your brain uses to justify why you let someone shit on you.

I am coming from a marriage of 20 years and after getting therapy, finally realizing just how I much I enabled the treatment I received.

Sex is such a strong urge too, ESPECIALLY at 20. That and fear of loneliness.

I've got something that is worse though. 20 years I will never get back because I convinced myself if I just kept loving her, she would eventually love me back the same. That I just need to be strong and the sacrifice is worth it. Now I don't even really know who I am anymore.

You got this in a short dating period.

I am not red pilling or any of that other chauvinistic bullshit because this applies to both partners.

Almost every single example you presented was reason enough, on its own, to leave her.

But you twisted yourself into thinking there's no way this is what it is. You must not be seeing it right, there must be some justification for her behavior. It must not be a big deal, or you are "over reacting".

That can be anywhere from poor self esteem to just putting your partner on a pedestal.

If your partner does something that makes you think, "I could/would never consider doing that.", in a bad way, it is most likely not an equal or healthy relationship. (This mostly applies to how they interact with you and others.)

You are NTA, you just need to respect your own boundaries, even when it hurts.