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Married to someone with Aspergers: support thread 5

982 replies

Bluebellforest1 · 21/12/2020 11:04

New thread

OP posts:
AspergersWife · 03/06/2021 09:28

Yes I am grateful to @Bluebellforest1 too, as this thread has been a lifeline for me at what has undoubtedly been the worst part of our very tumultuous relationship and marriage!

@LoveYorkshire I think you asked my situation, the truth of it is I don't know! A few weeks ago I was preparing myself to split but now I'm resigned to 'one more try'. I'm exhausted tbh. We've been married about 10 years, and together years before that and problems have always been present in our communication. Quite honestly I don't know why we keep flogging a dead horse, but H is adamant he loves me and wants to be with me and the children forever.

I spoke with the counsellor yesterday at an individual video session, then she spoke to H alone, to get a picture of us as individuals. Next week we'll have a joint session and start to learn a new way of communicating. I told her my doubts, as H is very much leaning in to his diagnosis I am concerned he will not engage with any feelings. For him his Aspergers is a shield, and he can not or will not acknowledge emotion. Apparently he experiences a sensory overload when he tries to, so it's actually not that he doesn't feel anything, but rather feels too much and in panic will present a very blank 'meh' reaction - as he did when I broached separation.

She did reassure me by saying that anyone with or without a diagnosis can re-learn patterns, and people without asd have as much trouble as those with in recognising and understanding feelings. She said our marriage may have to adapt (I'm thinking, how much more can I adapt here?!!!!!) and we will both need new ways to connect, god knows how long this will drag on for but she said so far our responses bode well for future happiness. I feel faintly optimistic but also know we've been here many times before with previous counsellors. She swears this way is more sustainable, which is what H needs.

H meanwhile thinks all is solved. He deleted the OW (online woman!) and game group, end of problem - tick. We are seeing a counsellor - tick. He's acting more affection to me - tick. He's spending time with me, not gaming - tick. And then last night told me he's taken his console to his office and might play the game next week with one of his IRL friends who has an afternoon off work. But he'll leave it at work so the temptation isn't present at home. Confused I know this just means he'll end up gaming for hours at work, not get his work done, then be late home because he's lost track of time or have to 'pop in' to his office at weekends to catch up. I've seen the cycle before and know it will happen again. It doesn't solve anything because I'll just be waiting for him to slip back. I don't trust him, and will always be suspicious of his addictive behaviours. If it's not the game there'll be something else.

Apparently the OW has been asking this IRL friend about where H has gone, and H told him to say it's family issues and he won't be online. I told him yet again I have no issue with the woman's friendship as long as he's giving me some time too. If he's chatting with OW til 3am, then the very least I expect is he stays awake to watch a film with me once a week or so. Or if he can't manage to give me even crumbs of attention, then he cannot be surprised if/when I go to seek out similar connections with other men who do give me respect, companionship and are interested in me as a human being and not just facilitator of a comfortable life and 24/7 nanny.

He then suggested it might be best if we stop talking about it and move on. Of course he would like that! He fails to see that by deleting this woman he's actually made her more of a big deal than if he was able to simply limit his playing. I wonder now how much of the 'temptation' was her and how much the game itself? I know the 'crush' would have burned out the way it does with all his male crushes too, I wasn't worried about an affair in the traditional sense. I assume that OW and all his group now think I'm some psycho jealous bitch who won't let H have friends, but for us it's not like I presume their lives are. When they're not playing, they are engaging in real lives (I expect, if they are NT and not addicted to the game. H has said they have families and often tells me X is at the cinema, Z is with his wife and so on. The only one regularly playing all evening til 2/3am is the woman). When H isn't playing with the group of lads, he's playing with OW til the early hours. The group of lad mates don't see that. When he's not on the game, he's watching YouTube videos of the game. They don't see that. When he's not doing anything game-related, he's sleeping, while I'm caring for our family. They don't see that, as he presents himself as such a family man. I don't know why it bothers me what his friends think, I don't see them socially, but it does make me wonder how he presents me given how I've heard the totally inaccurate way he presents himself and our lives.

colouringindoors · 03/06/2021 11:33

@AspergersWife What do YOU get out of your marriage?

Blossominspring2021 · 03/06/2021 11:47

@Bluebellforest1 I am also very grateful that you started these threads. Like others have said, it’s a lifeline. I’m more at peace now but a few years ago, I was very low - felt incredibly alone and trying to keep it together for DS - these threads helped massively. I know that there is still a huge amount of criticism of these threads, which does upset me I admit, but the sheer relief of feeling that I am not alone in this is a great support and helps me keep strong to support autistic DS. Thanks Flowers

AspergersWife · 03/06/2021 15:23

@colouringindoors good question! Basically I want to be married to the man I thought I was marrying. Fundamentally he's changed so much I'm not sure who that actually was. It's a bit like a dream or a mirage. Very confusing for me. Like falling in love with a ghost.

That person was funny, passionate and did a bloody good job of pretending to get me, to have my back and to share my ambitions and hopes. Was it all fake? I don't know. But if he can ever be that man again or even close to it is the big question. If he cannot and I cannot accept him as he is, then we cannot be together.

I had accepted certain changes pre-covid. I actually felt quite content despite his limitations. But the most recent Jan lockdown forced him further into isolation and the gaming obsession, and further away from me. Until I drew my line in the sand, he showed no signs of wanting to re-emerge into the world so we can attempt to pick up where he left off.

IF he is willing to cut out the gaming or other obsessive behaviours, or at the very least seek some help for it, then I have nothing to lose in sticking it out a bit longer and getting my finances sorted just in case. I'll go on dates with him when we can get childcare, IF he plans it and puts some effort in. I'm not driving it anymore. He needs to show me some enthusiasm and ability to step up, both for us as parents with plans for the kids and us as a couple. If he can't or won't and the counselling goes nowhere, then I won't continue in the marriage. I've not set a time frame but the money will take a while to sort, so I'm not making any quick decisions just yet. I'm basically ok, so can keep going a bit more, but now I will be holding part of myself back to protect myself.

emeraldjones · 03/06/2021 16:01

Thank you, thank you for this thread. I too have felt desperately alone and it helps so much to know that I'm not. I think it's so easy to feel inadequate and it must be something we are/aren't doing that leads to this lack of connection. Now it's hard to know what to do next when you realise probably nothing will ever change.

Bluebellforest1 · 03/06/2021 16:33

I have to say I didn’t start the whole thing, just this 5th thread in the long running series!
It’s a fantastic resource and support for what many of us (not all by any means) live with in our relationships.
Long may it continue.

OP posts:
HelpWendy · 03/06/2021 20:22

Anyone ever heard of Schizoid?

Bluebellforest1 · 03/06/2021 21:12

@HelpWendy

Anyone ever heard of Schizoid?
Yes, schizoid affective disorder, a popular diagnosis in the 1980’s (when I worked as a psychiatric nurse). Not sure about it now.
OP posts:
Cantspeakpublic · 05/06/2021 09:02

@DaughterofASCdad have we got the same dad?!
I have felt the same as you all my life and now put this down to asd which makes so much sense. But it’s what it has done to me growing up that I have to try and work through and it’s hard. I remember searching g through my dads things as I was convinced I wasn’t his as I could t understand why he could be so cold towards me. I also had a car accident as an adult, came back to his from hospital, woke and found he had gone out for the day instead of staying home to see if I was ok (after all he had planned to go out that day so for me even a serious car accident couldn’t change that!!)

Daftasabroom · 05/06/2021 12:31

A very close cousin of DW died yesterday, it's sad but it was expected. DW seems more upset that people were or weren't told in the wrong order. She was even upset that friend of the cousin found out before her. The friend was with the cousin when he died.

DW obviously has it her head that close family should be told first then close friends etc.any variation from this is unacceptable to her, even if people can't be contacted the order of still needs to be maintained.

Bluebellforest1 · 06/06/2021 15:31

@Daftasabroom,

I can so relate to that!
My h has “rules” in his head that should be obeyed at all costs, even though the rest of the world has no idea what those rules are!

OP posts:
HelpWendy · 07/06/2021 14:57

My husband has just been diagnosed. It explains a lot particularly why I've been mystified about not being able to reach him and the more I try the further away he goes. I think it is the end of the road for us, I am devastated for the kids and the family life I envisaged and also the sense of companionship I looked forward to in marriage but have never had. He seem so unwilling to give considering how he or we can deal with this.

Blossominspring2021 · 07/06/2021 18:18

@HelpWendy I’m sorry it must feel devastating. At least there is some explanation which will help in the future.
@Daftasabroom and @Bluebellforest1 DH also has many rules, however like your DW broom it sounds like she is more concerned about herself in it - that she wasn’t contacted in a certain order? DHs sister is like this, gets very upset if she doesn’t hear any family news first, including when a cousin had cancer. She had little interest in the cousin, but got enraged that she wasn’t told before other cousins. I really don’t know that is, it’s not something I see DS ever being bothered about, is it more a female social order thing? Whatever that means. DHs sister is very ‘territorial’ if that is the word, to a degree that is unusual. She sees me as merely a brood mare for ‘her’ nephew. I always saw it as just an overbearing characteristic.
@AspergersWife really sorry that must be so hard, wanting to make it work and so nearly getting good ‘signals’ but knowing that it may well be going through the same cycle again and again. DH has said to me in the past that he wanted us to divorce because he knows he’ll make the right noises but just won’t stick to them. A kind of honesty in that I guess. So hard to face the future alone though but you will be OK if you leave.

It makes me think, this is more common the difficulties in relationships with different neurological minds I guess, or mental health difficulties or other issues. I wonder that there isn’t more out there to support us in the early stages when things start going a bit awry? It seems such a shame to divorce and yet for many of us seems the only option.

colouringindoors · 07/06/2021 19:05

t makes me think, this is more common the difficulties in relationships with different neurological minds I guess, or mental health difficulties or other issues. I wonder that there isn’t more out there to support us in the early stages when things start going a bit awry? It seems such a shame to divorce and yet for many of us seems the only option.

Indeed. Politicians, people, society complain about the divorce rate but then if youremarried to someone wirh Bipolar (me) who doesn't get diagnosed for years and when he does get sectioned after 9 years (causing me ptsd) the inpatient approach of the so-called professionals killed our relationship.

And I've lost count of the numbers of parents of kids with ASD/additional needs who, in a big part as a result of the total lack of help, have separated. Make me mad.

colouringindoors · 07/06/2021 19:18

Johnson was in my town today. It's just as well I was at work or i might have got arrested

AspergersWife · 07/06/2021 19:53

The only help we found available was by paying privately. We are lucky in that short term we can afford some therapy sessions, but long term? No way. At some point it's just throwing money away. As you've said, he makes all the right noises but nothing ever actually changes. So what's the point of continually talking about it?

I'm so fed up of him refusing to take responsibility. Why is it always on me? Just because I'm NT doesn't mean I can be 100% perfect all the time. Yet if I don't follow the rules (which only exist in his head as a few of you have said too) I'm 'in trouble'.

This morning was so weird, he'd managed to be a sort of passable husband/father for most of the weekend, but the facade must have cracked in his sleep because he was an arse the moment he woke up.

I got up, got the kids ready, breakfast, lunch packed, etc. Then they'd needed suncream so I asked H if he was ever coming downstairs, and then asked him to mind the puppy while I sorted the kids out. She's very clingy at the mo and is usually pop her outside, but she's started eating my new plants - which H knew, as he saw her do it all weekend as soon as my back was turned. For some reason he let her out, even though I had just brought her in. And obviously didn't bother to engage or even look at her. When I came back downstairs he just looked at me, then handed me a beautiful newly-planted baby tree - he'd watched her dig it up. When I asked why she was even outside, his response was 'I don't need this, she's your dog. I'm late for work.' He'd chosen to laze in bed for an extra half hour while I ran around after the kids like a blue arsed fly, then had a long luxurious shower, and then had the gall to act like the 2 minutes he'd finally come downstairs and "watched" the puppy for was why he was late for work - so my fault. Why can he not act like a grown up and responsible parent? He is just as capable as I am as setting an alarm and showering before the kids are up, just as I do. I had even actually made that point to him jokingly last night, which of course he chose to ignore.

We didn't discuss anything of course, he just stropped off to work and predictably texted me that he is working late tonight. So I will never be able to call his shitty behaviour out, because if I bring it up later I will exhaust him. If I raise it tomorrow, I'm not letting things go.

We are meant to have a family day out tomorrow, as part of his campaign to prove he can be a decent family man, so obviously I've packed beach stuff, a picnic, spare clothes etc while he's still not home. Everything we've done this weekend has been the same. He makes grand plans, doesn't book or pack, or get the kids ready, it's all on me slogging away behind the scenes. There's just no equality. This is not a marriage or a partnership, he continually casts me in the housekeeper role, or mummy role, while he is either absent, delegates, or acts like a child.

colouringindoors · 07/06/2021 20:07

That's not a partnership Sad

AspergersWife · 07/06/2021 20:29

I know. I thought I'd accepted his limitations years ago, but seeing that nowadays he can't even be bothered to do the bare minimum, I need to draw a line somewhere. I keep asking myself, what does he bring to our marriage? And sadly the only answer is, the money.

I've spent all day (in between juggling dog and kids!) applying for jobs. My business is now back up and running and please god there'll be no more lockdowns, but being self employed even in non-covid times is too unpredictable and doesn't bring enough in if I'm going to make the break and be a single parent. Hopefully I can find something part time I can do alongside my own stuff but if not then I'd have to let the business go, or potentially hire someone to be me but that probably wouldn't be worthwhile.

I keep wondering, if lockdown hadn't happened, would we have been happy? I had accepted things in 2019 after much soul searching. Was I kidding myself then, or was it just not this bad? Or would this have happened anyway, just a bit further down the line? I don't know, but I don't think I can go much further with this even though I've committed to the couples counselling.

colouringindoors · 07/06/2021 20:44

It's such a hard decision, and there's no rush. You'll know one way or the other in time x

Blossominspring2021 · 07/06/2021 20:56

Agree @colouringindoors apologies I wasn’t very articulate.

As many of us have children with ASC or even potential mental illness, with the genetic link - you would think there is even more of a reason to keep their families stable and together (but supportive and happy). I know that I’m not relishing the future bringing up DS alone. He will probably always need some kind of care, how do I find another partner with that responsibility? How do I work full-time again? DS needs two committed together stable parents, kids with disabilities just do. They have much higher needs than most children. And it breaks my heart that they don’t get it.

Blossominspring2021 · 07/06/2021 21:02

@AspergersWife I hear you Sad I also felt that, having to bend to a degree where I no longer recognised myself. However DH in his mind, was ‘massively’ compromising. Anything that meant he even slightly had to change was a massive compromise to him. So the fact that I occasionally put my dishes in the dishwasher, without doing it in the order prescribed by DH, was a huge irritation for example. However when we have to compromise the core of a relationship, which is stability, trust, love, friendship - those really are bigger things than a plate in a dishwasher. However for DH, I”m not sure he saw it that way. Never going to see my family or holiday with me wasn’t something that he felt was a ‘thing’ to be counted at all.

Sorry that doesn’t help your dilemma. As colouring said - you can take your time. You don’t have to decide right away. You know it’s not great and there is only so much time you will let that go on for. I hung on for ages, esp when DS was smaller.

AspergersWife · 07/06/2021 21:52

I really do appreciate everyones support and kind words. I'm treated with more respect by the people here than H can ever bend to give me.

He's just arrived home and after trying to make some small talk about waking up super early for tomorrow's day out (I'll believe it when I see it Hmm) and with no apologies or thanks for me doing solo bedtime yet again - because he now sees that as the norm, asked me 'have I done something wrong or are you just annoyed I'm home late?' Then asked 'are you mad because the dog dug up your tree again?' as if he wasn't there and had nothing to do with it. He had either completely forgotten this morning or just dismissed it. I told him his shitty attitude had pissed me off, not the dog as she's just being a dog, but I can't be bothered discussing it now and I'm going to bed.

Our family day out tomorrow is going to be slightly awkward to say the least but I'm not prepared to keep smoothing over and ignoring all his shittiness if he can't even be bothered to apologise for basic rudeness or even attempt to be civil in the first place.

AspergersWife · 07/06/2021 21:56

@Blossominspring2021 in hindsight do you regret hanging on? My children are very young and DS is HFA so I do feel they need 2 stable together parents, but also they're not getting that as it is. They're getting 1 ground down parent trying her best to be on it, and 1 parent lazing about taking everything for granted. That isn't exactly the dynamic I want to present to them as a role model. A lot of it is behind the scenes, but they are smart kids and I don't know how much they pick up on. I wonder if I make the decision to split now (or at least within this year) then they'll have more time to adapt before hitting high school or other key milestones.

colouringindoors · 07/06/2021 22:20

@Blossominspring2021 no need to apologise. My dd is ASD. Me separating from her dad, her getting used to his place was a whole extra layer on top of normal trauma.

Ending a marriage when kids are involved is awful. I got married in 1997. But a dad with ASD traits and Bipolar plus a mum whose mental health was being destroyed was worse. My mental health is currently not good (mainly due to ex) but I am generally stronger apart. And the kids could see things were bad, and I didn't want them to think that that's what an ok marriage is like.

Blossominspring2021 · 08/06/2021 00:02

@AspergersWife in a way I do regret hanging on, yes. It was never going to get better and I knew that deep down, even when he was going through a time of ‘trying’. And each time he let me down it got worse. Yes I do think my self-confidence has suffered.

@colouringindoors I’m so sorry it sounds ridiculously tough for you. Being with someone who was ill enough to be sectioned must have been no joke for you. I bet you also had to handle and help your kids through it also, all the while probably getting zero support for yourself. It’s absolutely better out of a damaging relationship, for the children and ourselves, as you say it’s the stress and the normalising of unhealthy dynamics too.

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