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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

I love my (ASD) DH but the communication issues can be so hard

7 replies

420no · 12/11/2023 11:31

I have ADHD and children with both that and ASD, before somebody comes along and calls me ablist.

Our relationship is completely shit.

The rigidity, unwillingness / inability to consider change in any capacity, the black and white thinking without nuance, the lack of open and productive communication. He won't communicate about anything, ever, so by the time something is raised it ends up being a terrible row and the atmosphere indoors is palpable for the next week. If I raise anything he becomes defensive and thinks I'm attacking him.

We have alot of stress in our lives at the moment and a good portion of that could be fixed with a few simple changes that are down to him to make. He is absolutely, unwaveringly against any sort of change at all. It doesn't matter that the current set up works for nobody least of all him, it's what he knows and that's that. Bollocks to the rest of us.

That's before I get into the less serious stuff. No spontaneous trips anywhere, family outings are a chore to him and he wants weeks of notice if I want to do anything together. He doesn't want to go on (nor does he enjoy) holidays as a family. He huffs and puffs if I suggest doing anything and claims it's a "ball ache"

He'd rather just sit indoors watching the TV or playing on games.

All family admin falls to me. That is one thing I will say isn't attributed to his autism, its purely because if I didn't do it then none of it would get done. Period.

Yes, I know, plenty of people with autism have successful relationships bla bla bla. But we don't, and it's mainly down to the things that make up ASD.

I'm far from perfect but I own my shit. My inattentive ADHD means I can be impulsive so I've had to massively work on that. I arrange my life through Google calander now and have worked hard to build a system that works for me and doesn't impact anybody else. I've had therapy too and take medication.

He doesn't do sod all to address the difficulties in our relationship from his side. Nothing whatsoever. I'm miserable and I think I want out.

Please don't report my thread as being ablist. I'm the furthest thing from that. I'm so beaten down and exhausted.

OP posts:
NoSquirrels · 12/11/2023 11:36

You are entitled to end a relationship that is making you miserable.

It doesn’t really matter what the underlying reasons are - you have asked for change, change is not possible/happening and so you must make your own change.

You are entitled to be happy. You do not exist to support other people, that is not the full sum of your life.

420no · 12/11/2023 11:39

NoSquirrels · 12/11/2023 11:36

You are entitled to end a relationship that is making you miserable.

It doesn’t really matter what the underlying reasons are - you have asked for change, change is not possible/happening and so you must make your own change.

You are entitled to be happy. You do not exist to support other people, that is not the full sum of your life.

Thank you. I really needed to hear this. My life has become so small over the years and I want more than this.

OP posts:
wednamenov · 12/11/2023 11:42

It doesn't matter what the issue is, you have a right to a rich fulfilling life. You don't need to apologise, or feel guilty. I couldn't live with what you describe; it sounds suffocating and soul destroying.

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 12/11/2023 11:44

Relationships take work, but if only one of you is doing the work then something is wrong.

420no · 12/11/2023 11:45

wednamenov · 12/11/2023 11:42

It doesn't matter what the issue is, you have a right to a rich fulfilling life. You don't need to apologise, or feel guilty. I couldn't live with what you describe; it sounds suffocating and soul destroying.

Thank you. It really is.

You would all think I'm a total mug if I listed everything I've dealt with over the years. I think I have been a total mug actually. Life has been unnecessarily harder for not only me and our children but for his older children too, all because the stubborn man doesn't want to make any changes.

OP posts:
dylanschicken · 12/11/2023 11:52

Our relationship is completely shit.

I didn't read the rest of your OP, no need for the details here. A completely shit relationship is not one worth having. Do the right thing by yourself and your children, who will almost certainly be better off of you separated.

420no · 12/11/2023 11:56

dylanschicken · 12/11/2023 11:52

Our relationship is completely shit.

I didn't read the rest of your OP, no need for the details here. A completely shit relationship is not one worth having. Do the right thing by yourself and your children, who will almost certainly be better off of you separated.

I truly feel that they will.

The sunk cost fallacy and the age old "for the kids" has kept me with him far longer than I should have stayed. It's only now I'm realising that instead of staying "for the kids" I should be leaving, for the kids.

Our DD heard us having a row this morning and came into the room to say she hates it when we argue. I had deluded myself into thinking we managed to keep it from them better than we have. Gutted.

OP posts:
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