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damienParticipant
Hello Anita
Yes you are right. A bit distant but without being too much. It’s also true that I need to speak about me, what I did, may changes.. independent of her because as you say she may feel guilty or pressure or anything.. It’s also not a light choice for her.
It is also in some exchange of text messages where I will initiate the conversation and offer her to come, I might also start with light messages and good memories that could make smile and light the burden.
Body languages is indeed also very important. Her voice could be weak. I remember when I called her or had her on video it was difficult and was almost always tired due to anti-depressant pills.
Yes asking so would be some attention that she needs.I understand.I should talk less but better. It’s also not trying to prove everything but that she sees I am attentive. I would like to get interested in her, her family, her friends but she could also be tired and not handle too much.
When I’m talking, it’s also not to always prove what I did, what I changed its’s more informative and a bit distance that she sees it’s for myself too. She would be happy for me and will remember it. You are right language by smile, body is very important and could express and reassure her. Even some moment of silence with those is important. In that view she can really feel comfortable and not feeling pressure.
Some light subjects such as humour can also help right ? I also learnt her language. I even showed her diploma by picture one week before she makes her decision and she was looking forward to speak together and meet. I think it can be a good idea to be distracted. We won’t have serious conversation because my level is still low but she will be happy. But I remember she told me once she would like I know her language to understand her culture and her family.
This would be very helpful that she feels comfortable and peaceful. And then complicity could be reinstated.Thank you again, it’s very useful everything you told me.
damienParticipantHello Anita
She expressed her love very much while as for me I had issues to show it. After she may have been disappointed and stepped back in a break. You are right that depending on the feelings it can increase or decrease. I may feel more confident or less confident depending the evolution it’s true.
Yes this can make a possible evolution at the moment we will meet in person. I will have to adapt. What she’ll like to see are my changes if I became different, more attentive, supportive.. If I am secure enough for her. At the moment if the feeling is good, I could adapt my behavior and why not hold her arm or hand to support. Just being a gentleman by helping, holding doors etc.. would some attention she would appreciate for example. I need to do also according to how she feel. Being in depression could make her not open or enthusiastic also.
Yes I understand. She may also need time. It will depend how it will be in the moment. Her reactions could tell but as you say it’s not because she doesn’t smile for example that it’s doomed. But feeling and actions will be important to adapt the attitude.
I also should remain a bit distant to not appear in demand but show that I have changed and aimed my goals for myself.damienParticipantHello Anita
Yes it’s true. Here too. In our case if I wouldn’t be vaccinated it wouldn’t be even possible to travel to some places – including Ukraine. And soon it will be also require to go to some places.
Yes indeed. She also said we broke up since almost one year ago. Technically it’s a break but perhaps in her mind it’s also such as a break up. It also means I wouldn’t maybe able to be present with some signs you told me in first message such holding hands.
It’s true that our issue was also being separated for so long time without being physically present. And the distance (that was also due to the covid) didn’t help. It even did opposite because texts probably brought some misunderstanding. But a friend told me that in my situation the distance and the break was also favorable in order to perform some of my chances I needed to do anyway.
But on the other hand since january, I witnessed positive progresses in our communication and getting closer. And few months ago if she wouldn’t have developed another depression (or a burn-out), we could have met. We were talking every day and I felt from my side it came back. After I don’t know I need to see. We were together 7 years which is long time enough to keep some feelings.
As for me, even if 1 year and a half passed since our last meeting, I can’t forget and was emotionally connected to her even by distance. I remember she loved me very much and it was also a reason why she was patient to wait for my changes and decided the break. Even if she called it later a break up.But as you say, it will depends on the meeting in person. She was also waiting for those changes. And coming as a new person could make a difference. Until last months, she were waiting and ready to see those. And again in last messages, she spoke about changes being not enough that she couldn’t see in person. So yes I guess it will be also up to me bring most chances.
damienParticipantHello Anita
I mean it’s more related to egocentrism behavior which was some kind of attention I needed because I didn’t have enough as a child. In that way, it was unbalanced relationship. And yes overall I was more caring about myself.
So yes in that matter it’s not only about her depression but be also sure that she feel secure enough.Yes I can’t say depression was only because of me. It was different factors. She said that later.
Yes during first part of the year problem was also because borders were closed. Now it’s better because since we are vaccinated I can go. I am planning to visit her in Ukraine. I live in France.
Which is strange is when I offered to come she made decision to go on separate ways. We were still in the break and kind of broke up already in her mind since the break. So she just realized it wouldn’t be possible to return together or at least she said so. I believe she said something was missing at the time and some change was not enough because she also said that it was more than 7 years and she can’t anymore.
I don’t know if she feel the break up as past last august or like now. Because if she just believe now that it’s better to go on separate ways it would be easier to convince or being physically present would make the difference easier than if she really just made the decision to break up. But in any case I think it would somehow make a different to be physically present..So I hope when I’ll go, something will be possible and I will be able to make her better.
I also imagine that as long my coming was not imminent, she didn’t have to take a decision about that and she kind of of postponed the decision and we continued to exchange and share.
She also may not realize that my presence and seeing my changes could possibly help her..damienParticipantThank you ! She will have to see in real the difference. She acknowledged, saw some but all this by text. But still, she decided so to break up. Indeed this is something I need to try to do so she feels understood and supported. Because before I was totally another who cared only about herself.
No she doesn’t know. Since her decision I left her space and silence for some time. Now I will try to reconnect with her and tell her I will try to come to take some things and perhaps we will be able to have a discussion somewhere and she will accept it.
damienParticipantThank you Anita.
I believe yes. It was way too long and some issues could have been avoid if there wouldn’t be the covid. But of course beyond that, she’ll also want to see.
With her depression I have to see and then act accordingly. Because I won’t be able to tell her everything if she seems too weak. For example, I wanted to tell her that I am here to support her or I want to rebuild something but it will depend if she will be open to hear and how she is when I will see her.
But so far I left her no speaking for 3 weeks. I planned to break the silence and tell her I will come in about 2 weeks.It’s true I will have to prepare what to tell about me, my changes. Also be supportive, attentive. Getting interested and curious about her, her work, her family.. Be there for her but without mentioning the depression as it is something difficult for her that can’t solve. All that without stressing too much.
I know she is seeing a therapist and taking antidepressant.damienParticipantThank you Anita
I don’t think it was because of money. We didn’t talk about salary. When she said it was not enough, it was about the last messages in general. Or maybe to excuse what we should go on separate ways I don’t know. I don’t know exactly what aspect she was talking about. But she is not the kind of person who require some money. Knowing her, it would be sufficient to be happy with what we have.
But before it was true that she was saying that without a job, she couldn’t see how living together could be possible.In her depression I really don’t know how she is. And I guess first step would be to have a time together in real life, not texting anymore. Before we were exchanging quite a lot and she seemed happy for my changes and even 1 week before her decision, she was looking forward we could meet.
damienParticipantThank you Anita.
You are right I noticed some kind of anxiety, often stressed by her work. I was not knowing it as by opposition I am quite peaceful or at least without worry. So I was just saying to be less stressed without knowing.
Yes I had some serious problems in my childhood which affected the relationship. Some behavior was the lack of attention, I was not listening to her, egocentrism and bringing back everything to me without listening were some examples. She didn’t have her space in the relationship. Also she could see no future because we were planning to live together in the same flat in my country but I didn’t have a job. This insecurity brought her little by little some part of the depression. Her anxiety started with the impossibily to have a future projection. But this was already almost 1 year ago and I made great progress. I visited a therapist, found ways for a job. She acknowledged these changes. And we rebuilt our communication like before.
But of course as we can’t meet in real, she can’t really see.
In the last message she thanked me for my support and everything I did and my presence. But said after changes was not enough. But also said I grown very much.I believe since we haven’t met since january 2020 when I was another person she can’t imagine.
You are right that I should show her I am the solution and she can see I can really help. And this may be not possible to see until we meet. But being in depression, she decided to remove the problem.
It may take some time depending how she is now.
And in some way or another even if I am not entirely responsible for her depression, it can remind her negative thoughts.damienParticipantThank you for your answer Anita.
I didn’t make my introduction. I am Damien from France and she lives in Ukraine which has a complicated situation because of war in the eastern part of the country. That also explain some traumatism as her family lives in the region.
That’s correct. We have been dating for 7 years Also depression came from different factors because at the same I had some personal problems that affected negatively the relationship. So she decided the pause in order I change. But depression also came from other factors such as her work and the situation during covid, and being alone in the flat we shared sometime and without opportunity to see her family.
Yes after some time of silence, we spoke sometime to give news and by january we reinstalled communication and step by step complicity.
But then indeed she made another episode. More related to work I guess but it could be also connected to the first one.
I could have offered to come earlier but when I offered this by end of june, she was probably in bad condition and then she made the decision to go on our seperate ways.
She also said that my changes are not enough but I don’t know if it’s a excuse or not. She also didn’t see me so she can’t know for sure.Yes I believe that now the opportunity would be to go to take some of my stuff to also make her space in the flat but also this would be opportunity because we would meet at least after so long time. And as you say it could maybe make a difference and some support. By text it’s not the same and it could be even a reason by being alone that it worsened her condition.
So this would be last chance. But I don’t know how she is exactly. She could also require some time or she would even want to move on. I don’t know but at least physically meeting could change something and if not at least allow some time and be in contact until she gets better. I don’t know if I could hold hand or something if we are not couple anymore. But for sure it could change being physically close. It will depend on the level of her depression.She is pharmacist. She didn’t directly work with covid patients but saw some of colleagues she worked with dying and this is a shock. I remember she shared this with me some months ago.
Thanks for your time.
damienParticipantThank you !
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