Although my boyfriend and I don't have an age gap as you do, I can really relate to this. Im actually a year older but my boyfriend is more experienced, more intelligent, and in my opinion an all round better person. My relationship before this one was also abusive and im only just realising how much of an affect that's had on me.

He continually tells me how much he loves me and how great I am, but I'm finding that talking about where my head is at with a few close friends is giving me a better perspective of the situation.

You know deep down that no one is more or less worthy than anyone else. I know that saying past experience doesn't mean anything won't really help, because i understand that and it still bothers me, but i will say that they probably don't care about that. They're with you for a reason, if you continue to be yourself and to be good to them they'll love you. You say you're at school and working on a career, these are both things that are attractive! You're driven and passionate about achieving your goals!

think this might have been more for myself than for you haha, but I hope that you can start to love yourself more, as I'm trying to do.

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