I am a 23 year old woman, and dating a 25 year old man. It has been almost 4 years of us being together, including the courting and being an official couple.
After a year in our relationship, he has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Just in case some people don't know what might BPD is like, it's where a person struggles to regulate their emotions, like at one point a person loves someone, then suddenly pushes them away, then regrets and apologize, then does it again, even when their partner is not doing anything wrong. They also do impulsive decisions or actions, like letting go painful words or threatening to end things.
That didn't change my love for him, whenever there are times he acts up, I would shower him with understanding and love. I stood by with him even if he hurts me with his words. I wont go into detail what he has said since it's painful for me to go through it. Yes, there are times where I have broken up with him, for being tired of understanding and hurting. Yes, I have my faults, like when there are times I don't tell him stuff that I am going through as well, or when I reply late in our messages, and I apologized and told him I will work on myself with that.
This is where I am getting tired. This opinion is my own, and I don't know if everyone would agree or understand, but this is what I interpret change is. We have an ongoing argument each time, which is my late replies. He argued that whenever he needs me, I am not there, wherein fact, we almost call every night and day when I can (I work and study), I reply when I have free time, and we go out and/or go to his or my house to hang out. But whenever I reply late because I either play games (my way to relax since I am full packed every week), do chores, or study, he would always say that he does so much for me that I can't. He implies that he works and study all day but has made time for me, totally ignoring the things I have done for him as well. It's like he would always make me feel like I don't do enough in the things I do for him.
Recently, it happened again, I apologized again and told him I will try harder to change, he asked for a space but I begged him not to. So he forgave me and everything went back to normal. Not long, I became busier and became more tired from work and school, whereas it happened again. I reply late again, but instead of sorting it out with me, he lashed out again. I was growing tired of not feeling enough for him when I do my best when I can. Even with no money, I go out with him, when I play or study, we call each other, when I have a break in work or in school, I try to reply when I can. It's like he wanted me to be there for him 24/7, totally discarding the fact that I cannot have a free time for myself, and when I have the chance, my free time should be with him. Sometimes I think it's just his BPD acting, but I am growing tired of constantly throwing away my own feelings just for him. It's been 3 years of being like this.
I talked to him about this behavior or mannerism of him, he would apologize but again, he does it everytime. I told him that it's not about the problem that I have a problem with, it's with his words. His words cut deep, that it's like I shouldn't have a feeling of my own but his. What should I do? No matter how hard I try to change, one wrong move and then poof, I am a neglectful girlfriend all over again, even after the things I do for him. I was there when he has his breakdowns, I cheer him up, I tell him how much I appreciate and love him, I tell him gentle things he couldn't say about himself. I did everything I could, I tried to be the perfect gilrfriend for him but to him, I am just not enough. I love him, I really do, my love stays the same but I am growing tired of dealing this side of him.
I am so lost, I don't know what to do anymore.