AITA for leaving my toxic relationship, even though my partner threatened to hurt himself?

 I (29F) have been in a relationship with Sam (31M) for nearly five years. At first, everything seemed perfect. Sam was charming, caring, and loving. We traveled together, built a life together, and made all sorts of future plans. However, after about two years, things began to change. Sam became more controlling, jealous, and emotionally distant. He would often get angry over little things, and over time, I realized that his behavior wasn’t healthy for me.

Despite all the red flags, I stayed because I loved him. I thought things would get better, and I convinced myself that I could change him. But after endless arguments, broken promises, and mental exhaustion, I realized that I couldn’t do this anymore. I wasn’t happy. I wasn’t even myself anymore. So, I made the decision to leave him.

When I told Sam that I was leaving, he broke down. He begged me to stay, telling me that he couldn’t live without me and that he’d hurt himself if I left. He was frantic, crying, and trying to convince me that he’d change. At that moment, I felt guilty and torn. But deep down, I knew that staying in this toxic relationship would destroy me. I had to take care of myself, so I left.

Since then, Sam has tried to reach out to me, sending me long texts, calling me, and even showing up at my door. He tells me that I’m abandoning him, and that I’m the one who’s breaking his heart. Some of my friends say I did the right thing by walking away, while others feel that I should have tried harder to help him through his issues.

I know I made the right choice for my mental health, but I still feel guilty. Did I abandon him when he needed me the most? Was I wrong to walk away from a relationship that I had invested so much time and energy into?

AITA for leaving my toxic relationship, even though my partner threatened to hurt himself?