I feel so guilty even typing this out but I'm about to lose my freakin' mind. It's a genuine fear of mine that my gf is going to look up this forum and even consider joining it because I'm a part of it.

Because anything I do that doesn't involve her - needs to, in her mind.

If I'm on my phone texting my family (or trying to participate in mental health chats), she'll rest her head on my shoulder and then drop down to rest on my chest/stomach literally getting between me and my phone so I either put it down or allow her to read everything me and they are saying.

She'll do the same if I'm on my laptop trying to pursue this forum. If I sit on the floor, she'll kick her legs out or come and join me. If I go to another room she'll follow. I could be doing literally anything and it's like - she can't let me be. And I'm seconds away from screaming.

I don't want to snap. I don't want to react. I want to do this in a way that doesn't make her feel attacked or pushed away but holy beep do I need some freakin' space.

I'm horrible at assertion. And this makes her sound borderline stalkerish and I don't know that I'm not saying that. It's gotten so intense lately.

I'm kind of tempted to change usernames so I'm less easy to find given this is a line from a song I love.

Is that too far? I don't even know anymore.

We live together and share a lease and that lease isn't up until the end of the year so leaving is not really an option. I had to sign a lease I can't comfortably afford because of well, reasons and I'm bleeding money rather than saving it.

So assertion and boundaries. Any advice/tips/tricks you got, lay 'em on me. Please.