My boyfriend and I are both finishing our dissertations for our degrees. We are both in final year on a 5 year integrated masters course for aeronautical engineering. It is tough and the papers are due next Wednesday.
Prior to us dating I experienced really really bad burn out in second year (panic attack level) when I was having family problems and my grades were dreadful but I have made an academic comeback. I learned my lessons and have been coping okay. My boyfriend has been managing like a trooper until this year. He is really depressed, lacks motivation and is doubting himself. I am trying to encourage short daily walks, make him cups of tea and give him cuddles when needed. Everyone else has had burn out in our house at some point but it is just him currently. I am doing my best to listen to him and support him.
He is really patient and kind to me but I seemed to upset him today when he was talking about being the only one burn out. He was spiraling and calling himself a 'terrible engineer' etc. I reminded him that he is doing really well, that he is not the only one that it is common and that there's several of us he can talk to who have been through it and that I am here to support him the best I can. That he is not lacking and he is valid to be feeling this way. He asked to be alone quite harshly but apologized straight away. I understand that he is stressed and honestly he is really trying to be sweet with me and support me with my work despite this. Could I have approached this better?
TLDR: I want to support my burnout boyfriend the best I can