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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

Dating someone with autism

96 replies

CM97 · 21/04/2025 23:54

Please can you tell me your experiences of having a partner who has recently been diagnosed with autism, we are both divorced, grown up children and both in our 50’s? I’m neurotypical (but have a daughter and son with ADHD). What problems did you encounter and what were the solutions/strategies which helped? Thanks

OP posts:
faerietales · 22/04/2025 10:09

How predictable.

A load of comments about how awful autistic people are without anyone stopping to think that these blokes are just arseholes regardless of any neurodivergency that they may have.

faerietales · 22/04/2025 10:11

BusyGreenFinch · 22/04/2025 10:06

Well I'm the autistic one so I'll tell you what my husband would say. I'm loyal and empathic (my husband laughed when I first suggested my issues might be caused by autism as I have 'too much empathy' and therefore couldn't be autistic - was diagnosed about 2 years ago). Most autistics are like me and a lack of empathy suggests a comorbid other issue like narcissism or a personality disorder.

Where the problems come are that I do have autistic meltdowns. I cannot cope with too much sensory exposure and I get very upset and stressed when plans change. I could not be with someone who lives by the seat of their pants in the spur of the moment.

My husband used to get upset when I wouldn't ask how his day was. It's not that I don't care, just that I don't do the neurotypical tiptoeing around. If I want to talk about my day I talk about it, I don't sit there silently seething because he hasn't asked me, I get on and say what I want. Most of the time my work day has been sufficiently dull I don't actually want to talk about it. I expected him to do the same. I apologised of course and try to do better, but also explained that it would always be hard for me to remember because that question ("how was your day?") isn't a question that I expect to be asked of me. We tend to be much more direct and also brutally honest.

My biggest problem is mental health problems caused by years of rejection from neurotypicals and ableist neurodivergents. I have a lot of self-harm scars, panic disorder and recurrent depression. My mental health improved pretty much immediately upon my diagnosis as I stopped blaming myself for the way other people treated me.

Honestly, you say your children have ADHD, us neurodivergents tend to flock together so all my friends are autistic or ADHD, with the rare exception of my neurotypical husband. If you get along with your kids OK, you'll probably be fine with your new bloke. Good luck! 👍

Yep, you’ve basically summed me up too - recently diagnosed at aged and still suffering from years of masking and being misunderstood by people.

TheBunnyLover · 22/04/2025 10:16

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

The OP asked for her experience, and she got it.

TheBunnyLover · 22/04/2025 10:23

blueybingochilli · 22/04/2025 10:07

Really offensive comments on here. You do realise ASD is a disability, a life long one that will never go anywhere. Alot of what pps have said has been their experience just sounds like abuse. Injuries from sex? Sound abusive to me. I have never injured a sexual partner, nor am I robotic. Yes there is an element of control with autism, it’s because of the anxiety we have when routines etc are changed.

The injury from sex, I can unfortunately put down to autism in the main at least. It was a case of 'this is how I've always done it' of course female anatomy is different from one to the next. Someone with ASD can struggle to change a habit they have if you want to call the way they touch a partner habitual. It was as if I wasn't believed that I were in pain because my ex hadn't had many relationships and that way of touching had worked before. It was assumed it would work again. From my point of view I'd sometimes say 'I've told you that hurts, why do it again? '
'Well it's the way I've always done it!' Repeatedly. My ex would become upset if they hurt me, it wasn't purposeful abuse, just a matter of not being able to get one's head around the fact that it was different with me, because 'that's what I've always done'

blueybingochilli · 22/04/2025 10:30

TheBunnyLover · 22/04/2025 10:23

The injury from sex, I can unfortunately put down to autism in the main at least. It was a case of 'this is how I've always done it' of course female anatomy is different from one to the next. Someone with ASD can struggle to change a habit they have if you want to call the way they touch a partner habitual. It was as if I wasn't believed that I were in pain because my ex hadn't had many relationships and that way of touching had worked before. It was assumed it would work again. From my point of view I'd sometimes say 'I've told you that hurts, why do it again? '
'Well it's the way I've always done it!' Repeatedly. My ex would become upset if they hurt me, it wasn't purposeful abuse, just a matter of not being able to get one's head around the fact that it was different with me, because 'that's what I've always done'

When you explain it that way, it makes sense. Context is everything.

TheBunnyLover · 22/04/2025 10:32

blueybingochilli · 22/04/2025 10:30

When you explain it that way, it makes sense. Context is everything.

Apologies, I was typing on my 'phone and I'm not very good at it so perhaps left some crucial information out.
Autistic people find changes difficult sometimes. And mine had a mental block when it came to listening properly. Self-focused I guess. It was a 'me' problem that usual ways didn't work.

HatpinPanic · 22/04/2025 10:36

I feel a lot of it depends on how self aware he is about what he needs and how he gets it. For example can he tell you he's dysregulated and will re regulate by doing xyz, or does he not know and therefore it may become sort of your problem to solve together.

blueybingochilli · 22/04/2025 10:37

TheBunnyLover · 22/04/2025 10:32

Apologies, I was typing on my 'phone and I'm not very good at it so perhaps left some crucial information out.
Autistic people find changes difficult sometimes. And mine had a mental block when it came to listening properly. Self-focused I guess. It was a 'me' problem that usual ways didn't work.

No problem, I’m sorry for presuming myself.
I am autistic so I very much know what you mean, I do get stuck on what’s right etc, my way usually lol
I do have a need for control, but not in the sense of controlling someone, it’s about reassurance for myself really and knowing what’s going to happen

BusyGreenFinch · 22/04/2025 10:38

The unfortunate thing about men with autism is they are not socialised to be more accommodating like us autistic women. They also tend to have very limited dating experiences. My autistic brother and father are both married to their childhood sweethearts for example. That combined with the fixedness of their (our) personalities and behaviours goes a long way to explain why so many women have negative experiences of dating autistic men. But I do know of plenty of autistic men who are happily married and have been for many years, so it can work if the couple are right for each other.

GoldBeautifulHeart · 22/04/2025 10:44

TheBunnyLover · 22/04/2025 09:29

Selfishness
Being unbelievably cruel but not understanding why they had been cruel or that it was a problem.
Leaving me st a party and going home without telling me and saying that I was smiling so I was having a good time so they didn't think it an issue (I'd travelled almost 3 hours to visit them)
No communication
Not interested in me when a new hobby came about

Unable to combine two 'things' eg me and hobby so I was bullied by them when at a hobby meet-up with them, ignored at best, constantly picked at at worst

Showering me with gifts but not allowed to call them except in exceptional circumstances
Sex was robotic and constantly hurt me, eventually left me injured

Fastidious about hygiene, clothing and food to the point it became a real problem

Future faking because ASD tends to have a 'masking' phase and in mine's case, did what people do when they first get with somoene and those conversations arrive, pretended they wanted something they didn't because 'It's what you do'.

Leaving me to cope with a very serious potential diagnosis alone because 'don't understand things like that'..

Anyway, I won't go on. There are support threads on here and Cassandra syndrome groups on fb.
Some NT/ND relationships do work well.

But I'll never, ever enter one again. I am still recovering and I'm a changed woman, and not for the better. My mental health is fragile and shattered and I've been opened up to a world I never wanted to know existed.

But that's my experience. Or more accurately, a small fraction of it.

That sounds a them problem rather than being autistic. You can be a dickhead and also be ND.

I'm sorry you're had an awful experience with this person but everyone is different with autism. Same as ADHD.

faerietales · 22/04/2025 12:13

BusyGreenFinch · 22/04/2025 10:38

The unfortunate thing about men with autism is they are not socialised to be more accommodating like us autistic women. They also tend to have very limited dating experiences. My autistic brother and father are both married to their childhood sweethearts for example. That combined with the fixedness of their (our) personalities and behaviours goes a long way to explain why so many women have negative experiences of dating autistic men. But I do know of plenty of autistic men who are happily married and have been for many years, so it can work if the couple are right for each other.

But the issues you describe are not caused by autism - they are caused by those particular people who also happen to be autistic.

The MN script around autism is so frustratingly predictable and ableist. If it was about any other disability it wouldn’t be tolerated but for some reason neurodivergence is seen as fair game and something we just have to tolerate.

faerietales · 22/04/2025 12:52

GoldBeautifulHeart · 22/04/2025 10:44

That sounds a them problem rather than being autistic. You can be a dickhead and also be ND.

I'm sorry you're had an awful experience with this person but everyone is different with autism. Same as ADHD.

Yep - it’s so tired and predictable.

There are lots of people out there with autism and you’d have no idea unless they told you. There are also lots of people who are dickheads. Unfortunately when the two mix in one person, it’s the autism that gets the blame rather than the dickhead.

chewytalagi · 22/04/2025 12:58

I'm autistic and my experience is very much the same as @BusyGreenFinch

MattCauthon · 22/04/2025 13:31

An autism diagnosis is too vague to answer this question. What are the main challenges he experiences?

More importantly though, in the context of a new relationship, I don't think you should have to make any accomodations that you are not comfortale with. So, for example, if a new man is not into calling on the phone and you prefer calls, that's a perfectly legitimate reason not to continue the relationship, even if he doesn't like the phone because of his autism. Of course, arguably, such a small thing is oine that you absolutely could accomodate and if you want to, you should. But you don't have to do anything at the start of a relationship. It should be relatively easy and the benefits to the relationship should vastly and easily outweight any challenges.

myplace · 22/04/2025 13:37

As PPs say, everyone is different and things that bother you may not bother someone else. So consider the relationship as a whole. If there are difficult areas consider whether you can manage them longer term. Just like dating anyone.

One possible difference to be aware of- in the early days I was his current ‘special interest’. He spent a lot of time with me, thought about me, treated me nicely. Once I had been successfully ‘achieved’- girlfriend acquired, marriage completed- he moved his attention on leaving me feeling very lonely. Very lonely.

So that’s a thing to bear in mind that wouldn’t usually crop up with an NT partner.

Sparkling2006 · 22/04/2025 13:39

Take note op, you will not be allowed to discuss how his disability affects you. Despite autism being characterised by difficulties with social interaction and communication, any problems you encounter will be blamed on him being a dickhead rather than his difficulties.

amber763 · 22/04/2025 13:41

jubs15 · 22/04/2025 07:16

I've had two autistic partners. I nearly lost all sanity with the first and ended up seeking counselling. Both considered only themselves, they both came with lots of restrictions linked to sensory issues, both had terrible anxiety that limited what we did and sucked all enjoyment out. I did all the accommodating, compromising and sacrificing, but it achieved nothing but unhappiness.

Other people will have different experiences, but these are mine. There is a Facebook group for partners of people with Aspergers/ASD, which I used many times for support.

This mirrors my experience pretty accurately

faerietales · 22/04/2025 13:47

Sparkling2006 · 22/04/2025 13:39

Take note op, you will not be allowed to discuss how his disability affects you. Despite autism being characterised by difficulties with social interaction and communication, any problems you encounter will be blamed on him being a dickhead rather than his difficulties.

It’s just a lazy, shitty stereotype.

Being autistic and having communication difficulties doesn’t automatically make you a shit partner. But the assumption on here is always to blame the autism and not the person behind it. It’s so offensive.

Struggling with communication doesn’t make you an inherently bad person or partner - not knowing how to handle your limits and how to prevent meltdowns or issues is what makes you a bad partner. And that’s not unique to autism.

Sparkling2006 · 22/04/2025 14:10

It’s just a lazy, shitty stereotype.
Being autistic and having communication difficulties doesn’t automatically make you a shit partner. But the assumption on here is always to blame the autism and not the person behind it. It’s so offensive.
Struggling with communication doesn’t make you an inherently bad person or partner - not knowing how to handle your limits and how to prevent meltdowns or issues is what makes you a bad partner. And that’s not unique to autism

What’s offensive is calling people ableist and referring to their lived experiences as a lazy shitty stereotype. How on earth could you know how other people are affected by their autism or what it’s like to be in a relationship with them?

faerietales · 22/04/2025 14:38

Sparkling2006 · 22/04/2025 14:10

It’s just a lazy, shitty stereotype.
Being autistic and having communication difficulties doesn’t automatically make you a shit partner. But the assumption on here is always to blame the autism and not the person behind it. It’s so offensive.
Struggling with communication doesn’t make you an inherently bad person or partner - not knowing how to handle your limits and how to prevent meltdowns or issues is what makes you a bad partner. And that’s not unique to autism

What’s offensive is calling people ableist and referring to their lived experiences as a lazy shitty stereotype. How on earth could you know how other people are affected by their autism or what it’s like to be in a relationship with them?

Because your experience is your experience - it doesn't translate to everyone with autism being a shit partner and person, which is what these threads always hint at.

You say I can't know how other people are affected by their autism but neither can you. You just know how they choose to present themselves to other people and how they choose to communicate.

If they are shit to be in a relationship with, then they're shit to be in a relationship with - but it's lazy to say it's solely because they're autistic.

TheBunnyLover · 22/04/2025 14:39

myplace · 22/04/2025 13:37

As PPs say, everyone is different and things that bother you may not bother someone else. So consider the relationship as a whole. If there are difficult areas consider whether you can manage them longer term. Just like dating anyone.

One possible difference to be aware of- in the early days I was his current ‘special interest’. He spent a lot of time with me, thought about me, treated me nicely. Once I had been successfully ‘achieved’- girlfriend acquired, marriage completed- he moved his attention on leaving me feeling very lonely. Very lonely.

So that’s a thing to bear in mind that wouldn’t usually crop up with an NT partner.

Mine did the same and the other things I've mentioned, in the main, were a product of that.

Sparkling2006 · 22/04/2025 14:52

Because your experience is your experience - it doesn't translate to everyone with autism being a shit partner and person, which is what these threads always hint at.
You say I can't know how other people are affected by their autism but neither can you. You just know how they choose to present themselves to other people and how they choose to communicate.
If they are shit to be in a relationship with, then they're shit to be in a relationship with - but it's lazy to say it's solely because they're autistic

Nobody is hinting at anything. That’s your own interpretation and your own problem. People are talking about their own experiences and nobody is saying that all autistic people are shit at relationships.

If we were on a date Fairie, I’d have fucked off by now. This defensive victim mentality and putting words in peoples mouth is very unpleasant.

faerietales · 22/04/2025 14:55

Sparkling2006 · 22/04/2025 14:52

Because your experience is your experience - it doesn't translate to everyone with autism being a shit partner and person, which is what these threads always hint at.
You say I can't know how other people are affected by their autism but neither can you. You just know how they choose to present themselves to other people and how they choose to communicate.
If they are shit to be in a relationship with, then they're shit to be in a relationship with - but it's lazy to say it's solely because they're autistic

Nobody is hinting at anything. That’s your own interpretation and your own problem. People are talking about their own experiences and nobody is saying that all autistic people are shit at relationships.

If we were on a date Fairie, I’d have fucked off by now. This defensive victim mentality and putting words in peoples mouth is very unpleasant.

...and what makes you think I'd have wanted to go on a date with you in the first place?

TheBunnyLover · 22/04/2025 15:05

GoldBeautifulHeart · 22/04/2025 10:44

That sounds a them problem rather than being autistic. You can be a dickhead and also be ND.

I'm sorry you're had an awful experience with this person but everyone is different with autism. Same as ADHD.

It could be.

It also may not be.

I supported ExDP through the diagnostic process. It was a true minefield at times however the way I were treated was instrumental in the diagnosis and the reason DP decided to pursue one.

The selfishness, self focus-I am not saying that autistic people are selfish on purpose, but the fact that 'aut' literally means 'self', is a nod toward the fact that a lot of people with ASD assume their way to be the right way, their needs to be what matters, finding it difficult to consider that someone else's needs are important and valid, and that they're even more important sometimes in certain situations.

Again I am not saying every single person with ASD is like this, or that it isn't a product of a genuine disability. I am not saying people with ASD are horrible and evil or anything such as.

Selfishness e.g. I liked to talk on the phone and DP didn't-DP's need was met, absolutely not a chance we could have a phone conversation because 'I don't like it' 'I don't want to'. There were some exceptions, the main one being I was allowed to ring when DP was at work and alone. Not at home, not with friends-and very rarely was anything else the case!

I got an absolutely baffled look when I said something like 'but I'd really like to talk to you tonight/after my medical appointment/when I come back from being away'-it was unfathomable that I'd want that or that I'd ask that question because I should know it absolutely wasn't happening-'I don't want to!? What has the fact that you want to got to do with me?!'

Special interest fixation-it was me, but then it became a new hobby. Someone without ASD would usually know that a new hobby doesn't mean you forget about someone important to you, it wouldn't be even a question. From DP I got 'Well what am I meant to do? I like doing (hobby)!?' when I suggested that perhaps I'd like to spend time together at a time hobby was on (we only saw one another at weekends so doing both separately was not possible & because of special interest fixation, absolutely no chance of choosing 'us' or me above it).

Unable to integrate me into the hobby meet-ups. I was happy to go even though It's not my thing and again, I had a choice to either not spend time together at all, or go along to these meet-ups. But DP couldn't cope with having me there, again, this can be ASD. In an ASD mind, those things were separate. Being with a girlfriend AND being a hobby-goer and part of that group, at the same time, was too stressful for someone with ASD. Hence being horrible to me while I were there. Ignoring, bullying, snidy comments-I wasn't 'meant' to be there (despite being invited), it was too much to cope with and a mini-meltdown ensued-not a 'storming off' or crying or shouting one, but becoming annoyed and irritated and jibing at me helped.

Of the party, someone with ASD can assume others know what's occurring, because they do.

DP knew where I were and what was happening, and was tired, so going to bed seemed a perfectly reasonable thing to do.

Wouldn't have ever thought about me, in a strange town with strange people (to me) alone after travelling to spend time together. How I felt wouldn't enter the mind. The lack of that sort of emotional connection dictates that sometimes, someone with ASD will never feel that way. I was so, so upset and met with absolutely no understanding as to why.

'You seemed happy enough'
'I wanted to go to bed'
'I knew you were safe, so and so and so and so were there!'

DP hadn't done this to hurt me. There was a lot of upset once it was made obvious that I was upset, but in DP's eyes, the leaving of a long-distance partner to go home and go to bed was fine, because I was okay, and 'I wanted to go to bed!'

The fastidiousness was nothing in comparison to the above an a thousand other examples I could give, but illustrative of ASD. Meticulous hygiene, I 'wasn't allowed' to cook because I might (for example) use an ingredient I've had in the cupboard for a while. God forbid I went out in a scruffy jumper even if just to walk the dog, it was unfathomable to do that. Clothes for each occasion must be new. Having a container without a lid, in the fridge is disgusting! Sensory issues with fabrics, food and other items.

Unable to handle upset of any sort. Hence ignoring me when I was upset-about a medical examination that could've had a serious result. It would be too much, and (again, I apologise but I can put this down to ASD) meltdown ensued, couldn't cope with the situation-so shut off from me.

I sought support from friends instead.

Of course, it could also be put down to my ex DP just being an arsehole. But most if not all, of the things that happened, I can unfortunately put down to ASD traits and characteristics.

I do not want to derail the thread and make it about me, but nor will I not give examples that OP has asked for and the point I am trying to put across is, a lot of if not most of it, wasn't because my DP was trying to be a bad partner or to cause me pain.

myplace · 22/04/2025 15:15

I think I was on your thread, @TheBunnyLover Probably under a different name.

It’s very hard when someone’s autism causes a difficulty in a relationship. There will be people who say you must accommodate because they can’t help it/it’s a disability, don’t be so ableist… people who say it’s not the autism it’s because they’re a dick, don’t be so ableist…

There will be many people who find partners and ND really isn’t relevant or is indeed an advantage.

It hasn’t been for me. Many strengths, but also many hard to navigate weaknesses.

It is helpful to bear autism in mind when you find a behaviour hard to understand. It doesn’t mean that you have to tolerate behaviours you don’t like. Someone’s requirement for beige food cooked at home may well be due to autism. It doesn’t mean you can’t eat out ever
again, or that you need to cook for them. It means that food can’t be an important part of the relationship.