I (19F) have been dating my boyfriend (21M) for almost a year. We’ve had our ups and downs, but overall, things were good. Lately, though, I’ve been struggling with my mental health. I’ve had a lot of anxiety and depression that I’ve been trying to manage, but it’s been overwhelming.

For context, my boyfriend is an amazing guy. He’s super supportive, loving, and always there for me when I need him. The problem is, his way of "supporting" me is by constantly trying to fix everything. He’s always offering advice, making me feel like I should be “better,” or suggesting things I should be doing to “feel happier.” It feels like he’s not listening to me or truly understanding my struggles. I’m not asking him to have all the answers, but it’s gotten to the point where I feel like I’m just a project to him.

I tried to talk to him about this, but it didn’t go well. He got defensive and said I was pushing him away. I tried to explain that I need space to process my feelings and take care of myself without feeling like I’m disappointing him, but he didn’t get it. Now, we’re on a break, and I’ve been focusing on my mental health. I’ve been doing therapy, journaling, and trying to work through my emotions on my own.

The thing is, I feel guilty. I feel like I’m being selfish by putting myself first. I know he loves me and wants to help, but I can’t help feeling like I’m letting him down. Everyone around me says I did the right thing by taking a step back, but I can’t shake the feeling that maybe I’m just being unreasonable.

AITAH for choosing my mental health over my relationship, even though I know it’s hurting him?