I loved this man. I truly did. But a few months into our relationship, his traumas and resulting mental struggles manifested in extremely painful ways. Sudden rage, paranoid ideation, and verbal assaults became commonplace. I tried to hang on, I really did. I gave him so many chances to “fix” his behavior, and I know how badly he wanted to, but he is mentally unwell and couldn’t stop hurting me.

I finally had to walk away. I know he feels abandoned and alone and ashamed and I just can’t shake this guilt. I feel like I selfishly left someone that I love in their time of need, but there was no indication that things would ever get better. I was watching my own mental health deteriorate, and I decided on self-preservation above all else.

How do I reconcile this in my mind? Watching someone I love suffer while knowing can’t help them is one of the most painful things I’ve ever experienced. Someone please tell me what to do to assuage this guilt…