I've just discovered this sub and it's blown my mind, I've spent hours reading all the posts and desperately wishing someone had told me this stuff sooner! I'm 27 and stuck in a relationship with (what I now realise is) a LVM. I pay for everything and do all the chores because he has severe mental health issues. He also uses this as an excuse to treat me poorly, snap at me when he's anxious, stop me from going anywhere without him as it gives him panic attacks to be left alone, etc. He can be very loving and affectionate when he wants to be, and this is how I got trapped in the first place.

The problem is now nearly 1 year in, I'm reaching my breaking point and have tried to break up with him about 6 or 7 times now. Each time he totally breaks down, sobs and begs me not to leave him - I end up having to comfort and reassure him and then I can't go through with it. I don't know how else to describe it - it feels like I physically cannot do it. I love the content here but the "just leave him" rhetoric is not working for me - I've tried and tried and it isn't happening. Every time I try and fail I feel more helpless and stuck. I guess I'm looking for some different advice that isn't "just dump him" - how can I get to the stage where I can actually go through with it? Has anyone else been through this? I don't know what else to do :(

Edit: had another massive showdown and just managed to end it. Thank you all for the advice/tough love, just reading the same thing over and over again really helped get it in to my stupid brain how wrong this is. I won't be dating for a while but you can be sure I'll approach things very differently next time around!!