Told my girlfriend

[TheCrowing]

So.. I've known my girlfriend since I was in the 2nd grade. And as of now, we've been together about 4 years and 3 months. I've never felt like I could tell her about my SH.. but I after 6 years of struggling and almost a year of getting better, I finally told her the other night. I wrote her a letter because lately she hasn't really been listening to me when I tell her that I don't feel right. She got angry at first, because I had lied to her for so long. Then she got upset. And told me she'd text me the next day because she was too overwhelmed and didn't know how to react. I guess it was understandable.
All day yesterday and today, she's been talking to me differently (we go to universities about 2 hours from each other). She's been calling me baby a lot. Telling me how much she loves me, etc. She's been acting more 'loving' than usual I suppose. I like it.. But I don't want her to feel like she has to pay more attention to me now that she knows. Is this normal? I know a lot of people tend to do the opposite, but I don't want her feeling guilty. Or maybe when I told her, it kind of hit her that I don't feel right anymore?

I'm really not sure how I should be taking this sudden change in attitude.
Thanks

[CrimeStopper]

I'm proud of you for finally telling your girlfriend. I wouldn't look at her attitude change as a bad thing. I would look at it as more of a positive. She obviously still wants to be with you seeing as she isn't treating you more negative or hasn't left you yet. Yes it can be a shock for people to hear about self harm. So she may not know entirely how to act. If it's really bothering you that much if she's just being nice now because she knows everything then maybe you should bring that concern up to her. But from what you have said it personally to me doesn't sound like anything you need to worry about. But to ease your mind I feel you should say something.

I know how you feel with this issue. I told my boyfriend about two months ago about my past. Our first month of our relationship was horrible. Then I told him everything and his attitude and mine completely changed for the better towards each other. By me telling him it's brought us so much closer. I feel like a real couple now. I'm able to tell him my feelings good or bad. I'm able to turn to him. But for me and for you it is still a relationship and it will always take work. Good luck!

[TheCrowing]

Thanks. It's just strange. Our relationship has been failing a bit, and then now it's like.. not? I mean, it felt good to tell her. Because now I can be honest, so when I'm not feeling right, she knows what I mean. She'll know now that there really is something wrong. But I don't want this to be the only thing that saves our relationship.

It could also be hard on her because she's a part of the To Write Love On Her Arms group at her school, and she's even like, the main person for the Depression/Self-Harm section of it.. and I guess she never thought that she would be taking a part in something that hit so close to home for me. Kind of like that "that'll never happen to me" mentality?

[FillingWithHope]

That is a very hard step to come out and tell her! Don't take her attitude change as anything bad because she may have realized that time is short and you have to make the best of it. She is also trying to show you that she cares so much for you, it would hurt her if she ever lost you since you mean so much to her. She doesn't want to lose you and she is showing that through this sudden loving change.

[StargazingDragon]

I think she just needs a little time to adjust and absorb the information. Maybe she just realized how much she had to lose. It is understandable that she might be feeling a little more concerned for you than usual because she loves you and she doesn't want you to feel unloved which SH usually implies. Good luck and be proud you could tell her something this big. Telling people can be a big step. This shows her how much you trust her.