I’m 23F he’s 24M I need advice if I’m expecting a lot

Relationships

I think I need an outside perspective because I’m too emotionally attached to see this clearly.

I’ve been in a relationship where I feel like I’m constantly asking for very basic things—affection, communication, and emotional support—but nothing really changes.

Some examples:
- He rarely replies on time and can ignore texts for hours even after I’ve told him it bothers me
- I always text first, even after fights
- He never does small things like saying good morning/good night, holding hands, or showing affection
- I’ve asked for emotional support, but if I’m unwell (headache, injury, even dislocating something), he barely checks in
- He criticizes things I do (like recording a video because I was excited) and makes me feel judged
- He’s made comments about my looks and called me boring, which honestly hurt a lot
- During my periods, instead of being supportive, he’s made comments or blamed situations on it
- If he doesn’t like something (food, plans, etc.), he repeats it a lot and kind of ruins the experience
- When I bring things up, he gets defensive, angry, or just walks away instead of talking it through

Recently, I went on a trip for a competition that I planned and worked hard for, and I included him so he could experience it too. Instead of appreciating it, he kept complaining that we weren’t going around enough and blamed it on my periods, which felt really unfair.

I feel like I’m putting in effort, communicating clearly, and trying to make things work, but I don’t feel cared for or respected. At the same time, I know I’m attached, which is what’s making this hard to walk away from.

I guess my questions are:
- Am I expecting too much, or are these basic needs?

I’d really appreciate honest perspectives.

Posted May 1, 2026, 9:08 PM UTC

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