How to Tolerate or Handle a Snappy Partner? (27M / 31F)
Me (27M) and my girlfriend (31F) have been dating each other for 6 months and have been official for 5 months (total time together = 11 months). We also live together.
She has been going through a lot lately, such as strain with her personal relationships and job. She was never snappy towards me but I noticed this is how she handles life stressors. She’s acknowledged that she shouldn’t take things out on me and apologized for treating me like a sack of flour that’s kicked. However, she hasn’t changed except gone longer without snapping at me. Though, life hasn’t gotten easier for her. I give her space and am not needy by any means, but I also communicate what is and isn’t okay (like how I’ve been treated). I reckon I’m a little more emotionally available than her at the moment, but it’s been draining for me. It feels like I’m walking on eggshells.
I’m there for her by any and all means and have been patient. I’ve been the shoulder for her to cry on, given her advice when she asks, and just listens to her when she needs to vent. We equally help out around the house as well and are OK in that department.
I do love her and the first few months were amazing. I guess you can call that the honeymoon phase, but that of course abruptly ended because life happened and our lives outside of our relationship got really stressful for both of us. However, I don’t let that change how I show up in my relationship and I’ve learned to silo different emotions away from “home.” I think as time goes on, things will get better as the stressors in our life will be resolved.
We both want kids and to raise a family together, but It’s just sad to me because it’s a glimpse of how things are handled in her perspective and how I might be treated during future stressors.
Has anyone experienced this? What did you communicate? How did things change? Thank you.