TL;DR: My boyfriend and I are very happy but facing friction as I transition into adulthood. He can be dismissive of my mental health struggles, and I am struggling with the fear of the future. Are we just two people learning how to be a couple, or are these signs that we aren't a long-term match?
My boyfriend (36M) and I (24f) have been together for two years, we’ve built a beautiful life together. He’s incredibly attentive and has been my biggest supporter through my career and my hobbies. We are on the same page about the big things: no kids, traveling the world, obsessed with our pets, and wanting to get our own place together next year.
But I'm currently at a scary transition point, having just graduated and facing the "real world" for the first time, like moving out and getting a real job, while he’s already established in his career.
I struggle with social anxiety and indecision, while he struggles with punctuality and a tendency to speak for me. Sometimes, in the heat of a disagreement, he sees my struggles as "immaturity" or my depression as an "excuse," while I likely contribute to the tension with my own fears and insecurities.
We love each other deeply and we both have our flaws, but I’m trying to figure out if these are just hurdles that every couple faces while learning to coexist, or if our different life stages make it harder to truly understand each other’s perspectives. We want to make this work, but I’m wondering if good communication can fix these personality clashes or if they become deal-breakers long-term.