My boyfriend and I are both 18, and I’m having some troubles trusting him. For good reason, last time we dated (for over a year!) he cheated. I’ve thought about it long and hard and realized that he didn’t do it necessarily to hurt me, he was just insecure and confused and that led him to it (we both have had problems with our self esteem in the past, which led to many relationship problems from BOTH sides, not just his.). We broke up in early March, but reconnected in early September. I really feel it deep down that he’s changed. He acts completely different with me now, he actually shows me he cares, he doesn’t blow me off to hang w his “friends.” In fact, he invites me to hang out w him so often and is so clingy now that if he was cheating again I would know because I’m literally always with him. Everyone that’s my friend that hated him before even says he’s changed now. I think me leaving really had a change on him and made him realize what he had and what he could lose again.

My problem here is despite the fact that I always know where he is and who he’s with or I’m physically with him, I still can’t trust him. I look for him and see him in Snapchat stories that he’s not actually in, I get panic attacks thinking about what he could be doing when I’m not there even though I know nothing is going on. I can’t stop thinking about it. Does anyone know of ways to regain the trust I’ve lost?

P.S. yes I know that he’s cheated before, I’m asking for constructive help, so if you’re just going to say “leave him!” Or “once a cheater always a cheater,” please just don’t bother commenting. I’m well aware he could cheat again and fuck me over, I don’t need the reminding. I’m giving him another chance because I want to, and I’m well aware of the potential disaster that could happen.

P.S2 I put this in teen relationships because we’re both 18, but I do feel like we do have a mature and adult relationship, so please treat it as such, and not as some high school fling. (I am prob going to post this to adult relationships also)