Ask Dr. Schwartz
Psychotherapy and Mental Health questions

My name is Alexa. I'm 20 years old. Almost a year and a half ago, I began dating an old acquaintance of mine that I had known for years, throughout middle school and high school. As soon as we became exclusive, he admitted to me that he had been in love with me for years and that he knew I was the one for him all along. I had no idea of this, only of his failed attempts to insert himself into my busy life.

The relationship went all too quickly. I trusted him because he had apparently thought this through and for sure wanted me. He promised me marriage, to love me completely, and to even have children with me someday. Usually, I am not so quick to make such promises or even want things like that so early on. However, this time around, I was hit like a train, and I fell deeply in love with him. The love from him did not last, though. Eventually, he broke up with me saying that he did not love me romantically anymore. Our fantasy relationship was not perfect, to say the least.

I was (and still am) suffering from anxiety and major depression and was not aware of it. I put too much pressure on his shoulders and he eventually could not take anymore and pushed me off. Believe it or not, this relationship lasted 3 months. I've been in relationships that have lasted for over a year, and I have not felt as in love with anyone else. I dated someone else for almost a year, and regrettably, I did not feel the same commitment and passion for him.

It has been over a year since we have broken up, and I am still in love. We are still in contact- he has become a part of my life. Though he continually rejects me and hurts me, I don't understand why I can't just get up and walk away. There is a faint hope and desire for him and for us that I can't seem to shake. I believed he was the one, and I still do, but circumstances just do not match. I keep thinking that he just wasn't ready for a relationship. He jumped in too quick and he doesn't want a girlfriend until he is ready, which isn't now. That makes me want to stick around because I would rather wait for him than date others I can't have that much passion with.

He seems to be completely done with dating me. However, he likes to flirt with me, but shows no exclusiveness. There are some things he does not like about me, but I believe my lack of emotional stability and confidence was rooted with my depression. When I am regulated with medication, I will have the willpower to boost my confidence and control my emotions better. I feel like I can prove to him that I am what he wants.

Am I being foolish? I love him so much, and I would do anything to give us another chance. Do I walk away forever? Do I continue being a hopeless romantic? What should I do?

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