He began by asking if I would be his GF, almost like we were back in high school. To my lasting regret, I never said no, but would deflect and change the subject. He then began saying I was his GF and began announcing it to others, telling men to stay away from me. We had many a fight in which I got upset when he got into it with male friends of mine. He then began assuming intimacy, demanding racy photos or video...chats when he couldn't be around me. Finally, it was the outright, you're my GF and you need to take care of me and pay my expenses and see to my emotional and physical needs.

I am grateful for what you are saying. Before I knew it, I felt responsible for his emotional state and to prevent him from self harm. I realize now that I was manipulated into that. I'm not deeply emotional, but I am nurturing and try my best to see to others' needs. I did speak to his former therapist, telling her about what he was going through in his increasingly escalating behavior. I'm not sure if I delivered my message effectively as she said I wasn't telling her anything she didn't already know and that she wished he and I well as a couple. You're right in that I am emotionally drained of what little emotion that I have. I've been walking on eggshells, anticipating his next outburst. I would always try to placate him, saying that other men in my life were just friends or coworkers. I was constantly justifying anyone I had contact with. I realized that this was insane on my part as he and I were not in any real romantic relationship.

I did finally have to set some boundaries, something that my time on this site prompted me to do. I was becoming increasingly sleep deprived because he would refuse to let me leave and go to sleep. I told him that I would not tolerate his threats to self harm and that I would call his therapist if he did. I'm not sure how it will turn out. You're words are right on as I felt like his emotional hostage. He would send me ranting voice mails or videos of him screaming over and over that I was the only one who could save him. He went off the grid a day ago and I find myself worried of what he might do when I know it is out of my control.

Thank you for the words of encouragement and the insight.