I (26F) confused by my boyfriend's (24m) behaviors lately
How do I tell my boyfriend he'snot acting like himself? I (26f) and my boyfriend (24m) have been dating for 2 years. The past few months have been tough, he is suddenly super inconsistent with attention and affection and it's driving me nuts. For reference, I have autism and cptsd specifically relating to feeling abandoned or discarded. Many times in my life both my family, friends, and partners abandoned me. I have been deeply betrayed and cheated on by past partners. Up until recently my boyfriend has been super consistent and understanding. To give background he's an almost pro bodybuilder, this season he can compete to go pro. He had a competition at the end of June, and he had to focus on himself for weeks leading up to the show. But to me, it feel like it was a couple months leading up to the show.
Also we have both been working more, not insane hours, but we are both more tired for sure. For the past few months my boyfriend seems more irritated at me for just being near him, trying to touch him, even talking. But then in other ways he still shows he cares and it's messing with me mentally.
For example last night after work he completely ignored me, didn't want to be touched really, but drove me to the store to pick up groceries and then right before bed said I was the most beautiful woman in the world. He will seem super distant then say or do something like that lately. He used to beg for my attention to the point we joked he wanted to be literally attached to me. But even when it felt a bit much for me I always met his energy and validated him. It seemed like very suddenly his additude changed. I know he still loves me but I can't shake this feeling something is unbalanced. We used to be intimate every day because we both have high drives, now it's once a week, and it's been that way for like 3 months at this point. I stopped asking for intimacy, but this past week he said he would step it up this week and we would have more sex but he never came through. Also his testosterone is very high because he's on a low dose of testosterone, but he was lean before and during the show and I realize that effects sex drive.
I want to text him not to come over tonight if he's going to ignore me most of the night but I know that would sound rude. I just want him the way he used to be. This is really eating at me and I feel like I'm going insane tbh. I am second guessing whether or not I'm imagining him acting different. I've spoken to him twice this month about it in the most empathetic and understanding way. The last time I spoke to him about it he completely shut down and didn't speak to me for 30min and then came back asking me not to leave him and that he wasn't satisfying me. He reacted emotionally, and I comforted him. But in that moment I needed comfort and in the past he would have done that. I'm so confused by his behaviors lately. Its making me question if he still sees me the same, if hes interested in someone else, etc.
TLDR: I (26f) am confused and upset my (24m) boyfriend of 2 years is acting distant and not himself lately.
Posted Aug 7, 2025, 4:41 PM UTC