I’m trying to cope with anxiety, depression and ADD. I started seeing a therapist. I’m on the waiting list to see a psychiatrist. I have panic attacks on a regular basis. I have financial worries. I feel like I’m living paycheck to paycheck.

My SO of 8 years just stepped down from his full time job to a part time position without telling me. He’s also getting a slight pay cut by making this change. He’s been dealing with depression. He lost his mother and a close friend. His mother died of cancer. Our friend died from a freak accident and it’s been hard to deal with.

We’re both artists. He wants to work on his art more and possibly sell items at craft fairs or online. He wanted to reduce his hours a couple months ago and I made it clear that I wasn’t comfortable with that. He hated his fulltime job. I suggested looking for another job—but that wasn’t good enough. He wanted to reduce his hours and work on his art. I said I’d feel more comfortable if we saved money before doing anything like that—of course, that hasn’t happened. There are days when I’m waiting for our paychecks to hit our accounts so we don’t get any overdrafts or so I can buy whatever it is that we need—or pay whatever bill needs to be paid.

I’ve been trying to figure out ways to save money—couponing, cheaper meals, walking to work instead of taking the bus, etc… But it’s still not enough in the end. I just want to feel like I can go from one week to the next without worrying about paying rent.

He talked to his boss about this change two weeks ago. I just found out on Saturday. I feel betrayed, lied to, let down. He feels like I’m not being supportive in what he wants to do. I love him but I’m not okay with any of this. I don’t know how to react. I feel overwhelmed and I’m still trying to process how I’m feeling. In the end I just feel very, very hurt. I’m looking for an outside perspective. I feel lost.