Dear evipax:

Maybe he didn’t have financial stress or distress and you have. But he must have had other distress and so, he can transfer his experience of distress to yours. And whatever his distress has been, he needs your support in finding comfort himself. That way expressing distress, in moderation and giving comfort is a two way street.

Did you express your financial distress to him excessively? Did you suggest to him that he was guilty for not resolving these issues for you?

And what distress did he experience in his life? Did he express it and did you respond to it by comforting him?

anita