I 21F am unsure how to move forward with my partner 22M in our relationship of 3 years. What shuld I do?

As the title states I have no Idea how to move forward in my relationship. My partner and I met in high school at the job where we both worked. One conversation turned into hours of talking and shortly after we began seeing each other every single day. To this day I am very certain he is my first true love. The problems began when I went to college. I was offered a scholarship to play Division 1 softball before we began dating, and he was aware of this. However, he made college a living hell for me. I was only allowed to wear large clothing. He checked my phone constantly and had every password. He constantly accused me of cheating, sneaking out, and talking to guys. Eventually, I was mentally exhausted and after trying therapy I decided to come home and do school online. We moved in with my parents. They had a room in the basement that would afford us privacy and a little more space. This is where I would spend almost all of my time. I would go to work where I had to record myself coming in and out to make sure I wasn't talking to male coworkers and then I would go home where I was not allowed to talk to my adoptive father. I reached my breaking point at a year and a half into the relationship and told him I was done. He moved out that night. I told him to get the help he needed because I could no longer help him.

Fast forward a year and I get a message from him while I am at work. I rolled my eyes at first and read the message. He sent me a long apology. He said he wasn't looking for a relationship but he missed talking to me and he had so much he wanted to tell me about therapy and how his life is going. This sparked part two of our relationship. He had done the work and was slowly showing me he had changed. After a year we moved into our first apartment and life was good. We had normal relationship problems but nothing like what I had previously gone through. I was happy. We began looking for a house roughly 5 months ago. We quickly got approved and found our home. The move was stressful and we argued more than normal but again nothing similar to the previous behaviors. However, within the last month, he has gotten upset with me for wearing shorts that even school dress codes would deem perfectly fine. V-neck shirts have become a point of tension. If I don't respond to him quickly he blows up my phone often calling until I pick up only to hang up. I was only allowed to go on my sister's recent bachelorette trip with the agreement that I wouldn't go on the party bus that he was invited on because it would include the groomsmen. Most recently he has told me I can no longer play in the softball league I am in with my extended family because of the guys that are there which caused a major argument because I enjoy playing.

With this background, I am at a loss as to what I should do moving forward. We own a home together that I can't afford on my own and we have a dog that I am afraid he will try to take. I love him truly and it hurts my heart that he has reverted to one way. How do I move forward with this relationship? Please help.

TLDR/ My partner has reverted to old troubling behaviors and I don't know how to move forward.

Posted Jul 9, 2025, 11:24 PM UTC

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