My (F28) partner (M27) have been together for 2 years. He works away during the week while I work FT and study PT. We’ve moved to a new town that is 4 hours away from my friends and family and I am struggling to build a social circle, especially as I work remotely and it has been pretty lonely.
None of this is a problem, it’s just life but when deadlines are looming or the workload is high I can get a little overwhelmed. When I try and talk to my partner he just gives me these ‘stock’ responses. They are sweet but I’ve heard them that many times it’s starting to feel disingenuous. Stuff like ‘I know you can do it’ and ‘don’t worry I’ll be home soon’. They’re coming from a good place but I’m struggling to communicate that these don’t help without sounding ungrateful.
He means well but if I try and bring it up he says ‘I just don’t know what else to say’. We mostly communicate over text during the week because he’s either busy or too knackered to call but he’s not one for an in depth conversation over text, think ‘how’s your day going’ 3x a day.
Has anyone got any suggestions on how to encourage him to say something else or how you supported a stressed partner long distance that I can suggest? I know it’s all from a good place and he’s my number 1 supporter and I don’t want to make him feel bad for trying.