Am I overthinking, or is this relationship one-sided?
I’m 20F, my boyfriend “Carl” (20M) and I have been together for three years. We met in high school shortly after I left an abusive relationship that gave me anxiety. Carl helped me heal and has always supported my faith (I’m LDS, he’s not religious), though he’s never been very expressive with his emotions. Lately I feel frustrated. I work two jobs, go to school full-time, and handle family/church responsibilities. He takes online classes but doesn’t work, spends a lot of time gaming, and rarely comes to my house or engages with my family despite me asking. When I visit him, I often end up cleaning or helping with chores, which makes me feel like a “replacement mom.” We don’t fight much, but he tends to shut down instead of sharing feelings. He agreed to do Bible study with me but seems uninterested in church. I worry about our future together, especially since he avoids conversations about marriage while I’m planning long-term. I love him deeply and can’t imagine life without him, but I feel alone, overextended, and unsure if I’m overthinking or ignoring red flags. Breaking up isn’t something I want right now, but I need advice on how to address these issues and feel more supported in the relationship.
Posted Oct 3, 2025, 5:08 PM UTC