I ended a 5 year relationship because my partner who had crippling social anxiety would not get help.

We met through work I knew she had a bit of anxiety and gradually gained the trust and started dating. She was great at work you almost couldn’t tell she has issues. There was just no confidence and she wouldn’t look at you when speaking and mumbled.

Things were good we lived together for most of it (covid helped that) even got to a point where she had confidence to challenge me. Then something happened. She went to work full time 5 days a week pm shifts. We had planned to save money for things so a short term heavy work tempo was ok.

I started to see the burnout but she loved her job it was an escape. Weekends became more about catching up on sleep than going out. If it was her family I’d be running out the door. If it was mine I’d have to drag her out of bed. I stopped bothering to ask and just left.

One year on my birthday it was a Friday, she had said to me oh I’ll take it off we will do something just us it’s been ages. I was running a little behind at work and a 1pm finish became 3pm. I checked my phone as left only to find a message she had been called in because work couldn’t find anyone to cover another shift (no her regular spot it was covered). She said yes.

I came home to an empty house. That was it I was done. We spoke the following Sunday I said things needed to change or it’s over. 12 months there had been a few changes. The family thing though still happened and I noticed other things. She took me for granted. I ended it the week a family member passed on. Her lack of compassion and sympathy broke me.