Am I being manipulated/played? How can I tell for sure?

Anyone depending on someone else for fulfillment is headed for a rude awakening. This position is like an investor waiting for his return to come in. It will work sometimes, but in reality most are disappointed! You should be happy all by yourself, not dependent on an others performance. Sure, every woman wants a great guy, but the reality is those woman who focus on them are just as flawed, and sometimes worse because they deny there own. You should know, the greatest couples are those who've learned to weather the storms of life together. Those who want to eat right away settle for TV dinners, but I ume you'd rather have a home cooked meal. Be patient, be strong, hang in there. There' nothing wrong with counseling, but do it out of love and not selfish reasons.