Didi,
My hubby is not a talker, nor a reader. He does care about me alot, though and since he is currently the bread winner and I'm staying home with the kids, he is spending lots of money on docs for me. He's told me, "If it helps, go for it and spend the money." (Our insurance sucks.) He doesn't believe in "shrinks" and doesn't want to read about my condition as he thinks if I clear up my medical problems and get proper diagnoses, the stress should go away. (I tend to agree, but it's self-perpetuating. The symptoms lead to stress, the stress makes the symptoms worse, etc.) I actually don't have many close friends nearby, so I talk to my mother-in-law and neighbors who have gone through this, too. My family has always told me I'm perfect, so this is really throwing them and all they do is worry. I'd be afraid to talk to them because it would cause more worry, you know? But my mother-in-law has been through Al-Alon, her daughter in therapy and depression (herself, her sister and mom), so I can talk with her. She's a bit religious, so God gets thrown in alot, but she doesn't push that I should do the same - just find something that works. Talk to who you can. As long as your boyfriend is supportive, let it be. Lean on him any way he offers, but don't push him to get too involved with the info unless he really wants to. Why not ask him how much he wants to know? I did. My husband said he didn't need to know all the details, but wanted to know what kinds of doctors I am seeing, why and what they say. And, if you find he's not even caring about what you're going through or leaving you home more and more, or that the relationship is not being kind to you, find someone new. You're not married and don't have kids with him, so you have that option. It may not be pretty to think about, but your emotional and physical health should come before preserving the relationship if it's not what you need. Keep in touch!
