Please help me take a step back and understand if there's hope.
We are soon celebrating our first relationship anniversary.
It's been really difficult lately. My mental health has been terrible, and I think it is mostly because I have some Borderline disorder traits (it's not new. A psychologist had told me that years ago and my new psychologist mentioned it too).
However I need some neutral point of view.
A YEAR AGO
I was working on an island for a summer job, living in a tiny van. We met. We both wanted it serious. He welcomed me to his house every night while dating... Little by little I moved with him. He told me that I could stay live wih him after my seasonal job.
We struggled connecting a bit, as he doesn't talk much. I struggled knowing his feelings towards me.
He included me in his life, his friends, family... He showed his dedication. He also holds my hand a lot.
THREE MONTHS IN
I said I loved him. I was devastated , inside of me, when he wasn't ready to reply. "Why would I stay on this island then?" I had anxiety rising. sleepless nights. But I remained patient. Although I kept saying it wasn't sure I was going to stay on this island after my summer job.
"people are close minded here" "what if I don't make friends" "what if I don't find a job later", I often was saying those things.
He kept showing his feelings with acts, not words.
SIX MONTHS IN
He told me he loved me too. However I kept feeling more distance than with most of my boyfriends: he doesn't express himself with words easily. No deep conversations... NOTE That he's started his own business and is VERY BUSY and stressed.
I was now jobless (end of summer job).
... Sometimes I asked him "but, I feel that you're not with me ? You aren't in love with me or what" and he reassured me, saying the relationship is still new but his feelings are growing, and he's not good with words.
He kept showing me dedication though.
10 MONTHS IN
The crisis.
I cam back from a long trip and sensed him distant again (probably real tired). I really pressed him "But I can't feel a connection with you right now...You're so distant, you DON'T Love me ??!" And I pressed and I pressed and I pressed.
He finally answered "maybe that with all my relationship failures, it takes more times opening up. My walls are up. Plus you say you might leave the island, not sure to find friends or a job... So , I love you, I am in love, but not 100 % in love. That takes time, we haven't been a year together yet" I pressed again and yeah, he was 100% in love with his exes (longer
That sentence threw me and I bought a train ticket to leave the next day. He was under shock. But I could see we didn't want to lose each other, and I didn't leave.
That crisis brought us closer... But
NOW
Since then (for 2 months now) I've been having anxiety, almost panic attacks. Every weeks. Huge insecurities, about him not loving me. Still in shock after he said he was more in love with them , that "With you it's still developping, I am trustful and optimistic"
My anxiety has been real bad and I've even woken him up in the middle of the night almost screaming at him.....
I know I've had borderline traits before (with self harm in the past) and I can feel it's the same kind of anxiety.
He says he is patient, wants it to work, even thinks of having a child together ... but he says that a crisis every week will tire him eventually...
Do you think there is hope? I've started seeing therapists, doctors , maybe to get medicated a bit.
Please help.
Is there hope ?