Since my last post about the guy who finally manned up and agreed to be exclusive, things have been going pretty well in our relationship. We see each other several times a week and talk on the phone every day, including while I was traveling over the holidays. We've confided things in each other and become very close. We have an absolutely amazing sexual chemistry. No problems on the horizon...

Until New Year's Eve. He wanted to go over to a friend's house, and they did some drugs. I knew he did some of that recreationally, but this was a little different. He seemed obsessed with doing it that night, and it caused him to treat me pretty dismissively. I honestly don't know why he even asked me to hang out on NYE, only to leave me sitting alone on his friend's couch. I was upset, and not quite sure what to make of it. When we finally ended up talking about it later, I told him I don't care what he chooses to do for himself and will not judge him about the drugs, but I didn't like the way he treated me. He apologized profusely and said he's going through a lot of issues, he's been seeing a therapist, he doesn't want to drag me into his problems. He also told me he's probably bipolar (this does not surprise me at all as I consistently fall for bipolar artists). I thought we were having a productive conversation, but then he said he thinks we should take a step back. It sounded like a euphemism for "it's not you, it's me...we should break up," but apparently that's not what he meant. He thinks he's not relationship material right now. He doesn't want a trainwreck between us while he's working on his issues, but he still wants to stay involved.

Honestly, I'm finding the terms of what he wants quite confusing, even though we've talked about it a couple times now. He continues to call every day. We continue to hang out. I don't know what a step back means. I asked him about it last night and he said something about worrying our passion would burn itself out, he's never felt this way before and doesn't know how to deal with it, but then he brought up all these other issues and kind of implied I am the last thing on his priority list. I'm starting to feel like he's taking me for granted and putting me into some sort of on-call status.

I'm pretty sensitive to being treated that way, because I do have a tendency to be codependent with friends and relationships, then get resentful when they treat me like a doormat. I think it might be best to tell him at this point that I deserve better than that, that if he can't see me as a priority then we should not see each other at all. On the other hand, I don't want to let pride get in the way and sabotage what could (continue to) be an amazing, unique, connection. I've never felt this way about someone before.

All advice appreciated!