I want to break up with my partner but I'm fully in love with them?
This is going to be a mess, I'm not a huge reddit user. I apologize if this seems insane but I want some advice. I have a partner and we've been dating for a year and a couple months. I love them very dearly, we don't have any relationship problems and we are extremely compatible.
However for a month or two I can't stop thinking about breaking up with them. I tend to be very avoidant and have a history with depression so maybe that can give some insight?
I keep thinking that they deserve better and that they would be better off not having to worry about me. Yet it hurts, I don't want to break up but every day the idea starts screaming at me like my body is saying I have to.
I love them so much, I constantly give them affection, I communicate properly and I have never wanted anyone else. But I still can't help wanting to leave them. We have talked and talked but it barely eases me at all. I feel like no matter what I will never be good enough for them, I will never be as good as them and it hurts so much.
They will tell me how much they love and care for me and it just hurts. I get this terrible feeling, like I'm a dog getting chocolate before they're put down?? I know that sounds ridiculous but it explains how I feel. At the beginning of our relationship I would get paranoid about wanting to leave over the slightest conflict due to having an abusive ex before them.
I don't know what to do. Everyone I know is telling me not to do this and I don't want to but it feels like my brain is attacking me. Any advice??
Posted Dec 9, 2025, 9:40 AM UTC