#1 tip to make is easier on him is: leave him alone.
When he is isolating he really does need space....
I DEFINITELY accept hugs.
Until recently, I had been spending most of my time at his place, but we don't officially live together. Our relationship is still fairly new, and I think he could feel his episode coming on, so he told me he thought it would be best if I didn't stay there quite as much, because he didn't want things to move too fast and get messed up. After thinking about it, I agreed that he was right. Last weekend when I was there, if I could feel him getting overwhelmed, I would take our dogs out and let them play and I would spend some time outside so he could have some breathing room. I was afraid we should leave, but he told me that wasn't the case. He said things weren't right in his head, and he was being quiet so he wouldn't snap at me. I've had some experience with angry outbursts, but I don't ever lash back (to start with because I was too surprised, and then later because I knew that wouldn't help).
Sometimes it's challenging to back off, because I get anxious and want to see or talk to him. I lost my job this week, also.. I worked in a motorcycle shop, owned by one of my family members. GE pulled our credit line because the shop owed so much, and by that point there was nothing else we could do. I found out on Thursday at 3:30 that that would be my last day. I escaped to friends' house in Louisiana this weekend just to get away and try to calm my anxiety, but I've been online applying for jobs basically since I got here. My fella has been quiet, too, and I've sure been missing him. When everything fell apart, I wanted to escape to him.. But that wasn't possible. So I came here. I am leaving Tuesday morning and going home to go to a job fair, and will focus on finding a job, and I'm going to force myself to start working out again. Maybe doing those two things for myself will help.
