Need advice, from a woman preferably

Hi there, I'm genuinely trying to understand a situation that's been hard on my heart for not only a woman I really like but my own as well.

I met this girl and things felt amazing right away. We went on multiple dates.

After the first date, she was the one who suggested hanging out the very next day. We went to the lake and had an awesome time. A day later she texted me asking "when are we making plans again?" She was initiating, texting me good morning every day, sending me pictures, telling me she misses me after a couple days not seeing each other, telling me I was so easy to stare at and that I made her feel alive. All things that didn't feed my ego (I'm working on self worth issues) but made me feel special, and chosen. And I feel this way towards her too.

Nothing felt one-sided.

Then last weekend she told me something that has been stuck in my head ever since. We were supposed to hang out twice and both times didnt work out and i suggested other times, I could already sense a difference in her frequency of communication. She told me late one of those nights that she missed me and that im sweet to be around. I told her I missed her too and suggested another time to which she didnt seem to receptive. I apologized for asking her to hang out a lot because I noticed she seemed a little distant and she sent me a voice note saying:

"Don't be sorry, you don't. I honestly want to see you like all the time, but I don't want to get too attached cause then ill suck, but I hope to see you tomorrow"

I told her i understand, and she said "ugh, I just really like you"

It confused me really badly.

Tomorrow came around and she said she felt terrible and stayed in bed all day.

Throughout all this she was still texting me, but much slower. Sometimes she'd disappear for hours. Sometimes she'd be engaged and send funny pictures and share whats going on. Send random excited Heys!! It felt inconsistent.

I started feeling like she was pulling away. Keep in mind there was no love bombing on any side, we both just confirmed we really like each other and were complimentary of each other.

One day I called her just to say hi. She didn't answer. A minute later she texted and said she was at dinner with her mom. I told her no worries, just wanted to see how her day was. She never replied that night. The next day she told me sorry and that shes been going through "bs, its been really hard at home" - she was distant that day and then later called me and i missed it cause she hung up and said she got shy.

I started getting worried because the vibe felt completely different than it had at the beginning. The next day she said -

"I'm sorry I've been just like too fucking idk. I'm trying to focus on myself. My mental health is just not amazing."

I responded supportively and told her I cared about her and didn't want to add more stress. Then she replied:

"Thank you. You don't make anything more stressful but I just have to pull back from everyone whenever this happens to realign my mental state. Thank you for being so nice."

So on one hand, she said I'm not the problem and that shes going through things. I thanked her for being honest and told her if space is what she needs most right now I respect that and to take all the time she needs, and If I can ever make the day easier to let me know. On the other hand, I know people a lot of times say the "I need to focus on myself" kind of thing when they're slowly backing out of dating someone. That's why I'm struggling.

The same day she told me this, she posted on her close friends story: "I love thrift shopping on lunch, thank you for helping my sanity. Old pictures of herself from a year ago looking absolutely distraught and crying with a caption saying something like "had me at my lowest a year ago. And then a selfie with a song whose lyrics was "don't have to kiss me, just bear with me, and I'll be back someday I hope."

So, I clearly see that she is genuinely struggling. And it breaks me heart for her cause im a lover no doubt. I want to be there, but I dont want to overstep or weird her out.

But another part of me thinks maybe this could just be a slow fade to let me down easy. Yesterday I checked on her and asked how she was doing. She eventually responded "I'm doing ok"

I told her "Good, thinking about ya and hoping things get easier."

Since then she's continued liking my Instagram stories.

BUT HERES the thing that's really messing with me:

Today she reposted a video of a meme that said "Me when I tell them I'm not ready for a relationship and they tell me they'll wait." The video was basically a guy yelling for help like nooo please dont wait.

Now while i never told her Id wait or anything like that I just said take all the time you need and if you want a breather let me know...that hit me like a truck because it made me think maybe she's indirectly saying she's not ready for a relationship and feels guilty when someone is kind to her or says they'll wait. Shes never directly told me that.

At the same time, if she's trying to get rid of me, why keep liking my stories? Why keep responding even if its barely now? Why tell me I'm not adding stress? Why tell me she wants to see me all the time?

I'm not asking whether she owes me anything. She doesn't. I'm asking what this honestly looks like from the outside.

Does this sound like a girl who genuinely likes me but is having mental health issues and pulling away from everyone? Likes me but realized she isn't emotionally available for a relationship? Slowly losing interest and trying to let me down gently?

I'm trying really hard to be objective because my emotions are all over the place. I genuinely like this girl and i guess what i really want to know is, should i just ask? I dont want to be insensitive, but i want to give her the out and have full clarity if so. If I do i want to ask in a sweet way that doesnt put pressure on her, but I also dont want to be selfish. I dont know what to do. And i know many will say just wait it out, but theres too many things she said to me for this to be such a sudden 180... can someone please help me out?

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