[18F] I am in a situationship with a guy [18M] who lives in another continent.
I need some help regarding my situationship...
We met on discord. Started talking about 3-4 months ago... I am in europe he's in another continent entirely. I love him very dearly and I have told him so. He seems to have a fearful-avoidant attachment style, and he knows, but he puts a lot of effort into not becoming avoidant even tho he told me he had a very strong urge to (that was abt a month ago). He has a one year rule where he doesnt date someone/make it official. When I asked, he said he self imposed it for no particular reason, but now that we talked more/emotionally connected, I am guessing its because of the fear of getting hurt (past relationship trauma).
The thing is his very trauma now seems to be flipped on me now. You see, he has a fear of getting attached, because last time he didnt receive an ounce of what he gave in return. He's scared to lose himself again, as it was so bad it costed his mental health and nearly his life. He's still baffled to this day on how much effort I put, he's not used to receiving that much love from someone, he didn't even think it was possible. He told me to leave, there's better people, but I said I'll wait until he heals, we can go on this journey together etc.
In the beginning it was okay he didnt put that much effort/initiative, but as things progressed he started saying things like "I am yours and you’re mine" which made me very happy, and tbh we are like a couple without the label. However I feel like I dont see that side of him he claims he does when he loves. I kinda try to connect even tho we are far away, like wanting to call him, watch movie together on a stream, play a game, just do something even if it's virtual... but its always me asking. I feel like he's not used to distance, whereas my past relationship was also ldr. But even when I do ask, he's either busy or he straight up doesnt like it. Like today I asked him to download this app for friends and couples to do random activities and he did download it, but he didn't like the app. I tried to remain calm, and he said he would rather spend time with me, but thats literally not gonna be possible for about 1-2 years. He doesnt like watching movies, which is okay, and he also isnt really a gamer, but like I am trying so hard to find an activity we can do. And sometimes we do, he did watch a movie with me, he usualy says yes to calling but they never last as long as I would want to. I feel like the timedifference and maybe language also plays in this and its making it harder for us.
Dont get me wrong its not like he puts 0 effort... he asks me questions, reassures me, he clearly does put effort into talking to me even tho he's busy, and when he knows he'll be unavailable he tells me so. He comunicates his needs with me, which is great. He's really just such a sweetheart but this little thing does bother me, thing is I always tell him not to stress himself if he can't find the time, but on the other hand I kind of am always the one asking to call or do smth and he js... he says he can always tell me if I want smth and he'll do it, but still. I feel like the fact he's neurodivergent is not helping at all here he clearly has no ill intention and is processing things/he's definitely busy like even in the discord server with our friends he's not there as much because he's busy.
He DOES join when he can, but idk, I guess i am js venting here. Thing is its making me feel sad enough to try finding attention from my friends to distract myself from the fact its all so inbalanced. Like, he even said he'd make a website for me (One that generates compliments for me). Its been few months and I didn't get it yet, meanwhile i've drawn him in my sketchbook twice, written 2 poems, one rant, a whole birth chart analysis, and who knows what else i dont even remember.
Idk its like the fact we are so far apart makes it so hard to find something to do in common. He's more the typa person to want to go to places outside and have fun adventures which is why I like him because I feel the same, but as i've already been in a ldr, i know that it can be so lonely if you dont try finding ways to spend time together while being so far away, and he doesnt seem to feel the same way or notice at the least.
Today I asked him if he can maybe propose an idea to spend time toghether, he asked for example but I said he should do it and tell me for when that is. I didnt tell him the reason for that was because every time I ask he either busy or we do it, he enjoys the time together, but when I ask again he says he's not the biggest fan if said activity. Idk. Even when I ask can we facetime while working, we did it once few days ago but then his friend walked into the room and he had to leave or smth gets in the way and when I ask again he said he dowsnt rly do facetiming etc, he's more of a texter/real life hangout which I totally get but like... its not possible and I ely js wanna see him even if it's js a muted facecall while we both do our thing. When i vc with my dc friends we all ask him to join, like today we gamed and then we js listened to music together, and he replied to us that he had his own playlist with songs he wanted to losten to... like get the hint i js wanna spend time together TwT Idk... :(
He's REALLY bad at taking hints btw i was flirting with him in the most obvious way (like giving very specific compliments, hearts, dirty jokes, straight up saying I love you) and he thought i was being friendly ffs, until I had a serious talk with him. Thats why I think its complicated i dont think its a lack of interest he js takes things too literally or misinterprets them completely 🥹 and its not even that he tries to hide us he openly flirts with me infront of our friends and stuff like I AM CONVINCED its the distance and his lack of social cues 😭 in his past rlp he had to teach himself things (for example making compliments). I am thinking maybe I have to figure out how to tell him what I want without making him feel overwhelmed. Before ony of yall go "just comunicate", the issue is in my mind ik abt past issues and also ik he has a full plate of work already and I dont want him to feel like this is something in addition... i care abt his mental health but I also wish I received the same effort I put back... but ik i am bit over the top... i was js hoping we'd match as he said he's very over the top too in love so I got my hopes up...
Please help? I love him so so much and he is already attached aswell he even said I gave him some real hope and if this doesn't work out I'll be the last he ever tries with, and I dont wanna leave in the first place, but I am also js a bit bored all the time and its like i have to ask my gaming buddies or other ppl to spend more time with me even tho I had previously hoped i could use that to do smth with him.
Any suggestions on how I can comunicate my needs without overwhelming him knowing he has lots to do?