Dear Queenie,
I’m 18 and my boyfriend and I have been together for most of high school. He used to be so sweet, but lately he’s gotten so mean. He thinks he’s never wrong about anything and yells at me if I disagree with him or do anything to annoy him.
I miss how he used to be and I don’t know if I want to stay with him if he’s always going to be like this.
Queenie, am I making too much of this? Will he go back to how he used to be?—Confused
Dear Confused,
I cannot guess what has caused your boyfriend’s change of behaviour, but it is not a good sign. Even if he is under some kind of stress, if this is how he deals with it you would be better off getting out before he becomes physically abusive.
You could try talking to him about your fears at a time when he is in a calm mood. If he takes it well and agrees to get some professional counselling, your relationship may have a chance of lasting. But be prepared for him to blow up at you when you try to talk to him about it and, if he does, get out fast and stay out permanently.
