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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

Married to someone with Asperger’s/ASD/ND: support thread 17

909 replies

SpecialMangeTout3 · 20/11/2025 22:18

New thread.
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This thread is for those of us seeking to explore the dynamics of long term relationships with our ND partners. Some of us are ND ourselves, very many of us have ND children. It is a support thread, and a safe space, it does get emotional at times. Avoid sweeping generalisations if possible, try and keep it specific to you and your partner.
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It's complicated and it's emotional.
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The old thread is here.
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/relationships/5355546-married-to-someone-with-aspergersasdnd-support-thread-16?page=10&reply=148665446

OP posts:
BustyLaRoux · 09/03/2026 18:12

ItReallyDoesntMatterAnymore · 09/03/2026 17:44

Thank you @BustyLaRoux and @SpecialMangeTout3 it is becoming more and more clear that although there are improvements, there is still a constant balancing act and I go from thinking 'it's working' to being convinced that there is just no way I can do this!

Things like my own health niggles, DD's MH crisis last autumn and now onset of puberty, as well as DH handling his ADHD diagnosis and now trialing meds, combined with health issues with both my parents all means that last year/this year was not the ideal time in the end. Despite having a foot out the door!

But, once DD has settled into Secondary (in Y6), should we actually find a suitable provision for her that is, and her MH is more stable, I am open to considering my options... I have all sorts of dreams and ideas if what might be possible.

For now, I am making lifestyle changes for my health, I've lost weight (helps with health issue) I have stopped my wine'oclock habit and I am now planning on starting up a small hobby/business 'thing' locally, later this year/next year. So I'm in a much better place in that sense but I hit burnout when DD had her crisis last year and I have more bad days than good but am getting there!

We definitely have less huffing and puffing, less PA behaviours and sulks/scowls from DH but every now and then that less pleasant side rears it's ugly head and reminds me of why I feel the way I do. There's just no way of getting away from that. And I don't think we can blame ND for that, I think it's personality too?

It sounds like you have a lot on your plate right now. And it’s really good you’ve made some lifestyle changes because they definitely help. Don’t give up on your plans though. Revisit them when the time is right (there’s never a perfect time of course).

Remind me, was it your DH who used to make unwanted advances / grabs even though you’d been very clear this wasn’t what you wanted? If it was then I hope he’s curbed that behaviour (apologies if I’ve remembered wrongly and it wasn’t you!).

You certainly sound in a better place than you were though. 🥰

ItReallyDoesntMatterAnymore · 09/03/2026 18:26

BustyLaRoux · 09/03/2026 18:12

It sounds like you have a lot on your plate right now. And it’s really good you’ve made some lifestyle changes because they definitely help. Don’t give up on your plans though. Revisit them when the time is right (there’s never a perfect time of course).

Remind me, was it your DH who used to make unwanted advances / grabs even though you’d been very clear this wasn’t what you wanted? If it was then I hope he’s curbed that behaviour (apologies if I’ve remembered wrongly and it wasn’t you!).

You certainly sound in a better place than you were though. 🥰

Yes, that was him and yes he is not doing that any more! In general he seems to be doing the 'lack of impulse control behaviours' less often, that improved even before he started the meds.

I might start writing my plans and ideas down, in a slightly fictional way possibly, as I enjoy creative writing anyway.

There is never a right time though, that is true!

Theydontwantme · 10/03/2026 14:07

My daughter has a lot of extra lessons alongside the mainstream designed to teach her about herself and the world of others. I read that the brain can learn and adapt when it’s taught at such a young age. I read that in asd/adhd brains some parts just don’t naturally grow and some overgrow and they can be supported to grow. I suppose old dog and new tricks comes into mind. I wonder if this is why partners seem to just be acting instead of actually feeling anything. Early intervention seems imperative. I wonder if most of the issues on this thread are from the undiagnosed folk? Behave change probably takes years and in others impossible.

SpecialMangeTout3 · 10/03/2026 19:52

More to the point, there was no support of that sort available then. Well no support at all
When my dcs were little (theyre early 20s now), ABA was the intervention of choice. Some support through Daisy Chain (charity) that wasn’t suitable for children able to cope with mainstream. My friend has a child of a similar age than my dcs. Her ds was offered extra time and a computer (once in GCSE years). And a room to go to at lunchntime to avoid bullying. That was it.

The difference, even in 10 years on how to support autism and ND has dramatically changed.

OP posts:
Theydontwantme · 10/03/2026 19:55

SpecialMangeTout3 · 10/03/2026 19:52

More to the point, there was no support of that sort available then. Well no support at all
When my dcs were little (theyre early 20s now), ABA was the intervention of choice. Some support through Daisy Chain (charity) that wasn’t suitable for children able to cope with mainstream. My friend has a child of a similar age than my dcs. Her ds was offered extra time and a computer (once in GCSE years). And a room to go to at lunchntime to avoid bullying. That was it.

The difference, even in 10 years on how to support autism and ND has dramatically changed.

It has and it needs to continue. It makes a huge difference for both sides of the relationship. My daughter now 9 has started to be able to see the other person’s point of view including mine and her sisters which has been amazing for both of our bonds.

Ohdostopwafflinggeremy · 11/03/2026 07:15

Just a thank you again to everyone on here, this community has been an absolute lifeline for me over the years.
I have learned so much, I have been supported in ways I didn't even realise I needed.
The hardest part for me is accepting that no matter how much i want things to change, I can only change myself.
I have changed who I am so much over the years, only fooling myself that things were working. Convincing myself that less than bare minimum interest and care was enough, for both me and our children. In reality, behind the faćade is a completely broken family.
I have patiently waited, willed and wished that dh would acknowledge our unhealthy family dynamic and take his share of responsibility in fixing it.
I have pretended, cried, ignored, pushed, insisted and cajoled him.
I have pleaded he seek help, get advice, work on himself. Just something to show he actually wants to have a healthier family environment. He has thought about it for a few minutes then, I can only surmise, thought it not worth the effort.
This scary health situation im in at present has made me see things much clearer. After i told him i would not be opening up to him emotionally as i didn't trust him, he has even stopped asking me how i am. I deserve better, my children deserve better. I don't love dh, i dont think I even like him.
I really wish I had some support from my supposed life partner of nearly 3 decades but I don't.
There has been a shift, a very profound on on my part to change the status quo now.

BustyLaRoux · 11/03/2026 07:29

Morning. Today I am so shocked and sad. And hurt and betrayed. Sorry I don’t really know how to process this. I hope you won’t mind me trauma dumping a bit. I am sorry. I know we all have awful stuff going on. I don’t know what to do….

As I suspected, for the last month of our relationship, which has only just ended, exDP had got himself another girlfriend (poor unsuspecting woman!). I don’t know why it hurts so much! I had obviously ceased to be useful as I was so unwell. Busty wasn’t fun anymore. The woman-bot had malfunctioned I suppose.

We limped on for a bit after Xmas. I ended up cleaning his house on Xmas day (why did I do it????) because it was disgusting and he had relatives arriving the next day. I actually felt bad for THEM to have to come to such a dirty messy house. He was grateful, but after this I got the ick somewhat. I work full-time, I had all my relatives arriving on Boxing Day and had been getting my own Xmas ready. He wasn’t working! He had no job so had every day in the run up to Xmas free. He did nothing to prepare. His house was a disgrace. He hadn’t bought or wrapped any presents. Hadn’t done anything other than attend to his special interest; ingredient shopping. I had to step in a few days before and get presents delivered by Amazon, wrap them (with paper I bought!), clean and tidy his house (I did it for the DC, not for him).

Even after this he continued to let me down again and again. In Feb, I suspected he had “moved on” and in the end I said this is enough. You don’t get to ghost me after everything I’ve done for you. I was sad though.

Now I found out he had someone else!!! So the lack of contact, the ignoring my messages, the lying about him going away for the weekend when I’d tried to arrange to see him (and then it transpiring he hadn’t gone away after all). It was all very odd and hurtful. I was unwell and I was desperately trying to get better! I was trying to make myself well again so no, I wasn’t fun. It was early nights and no booze for me. And all the while he’d decided he wasn’t getting enough attention I guess, so he moved on (only didn’t have the decency to end things and tell me, just ignored me and lied to me and hoped I’d get the message!). I think this is a shameful way to treat someone you said you loved, after six years together and the amount we’ve been through! When I think of all the practical and emotional and financial support I gave him, and continued to give him even when I was unwell. And he just lied to my face when I asked why he was being so weird. He just lied and said sorry, he was just busy. (Busy with a new woman to abuse and destroy I guess).

I didn’t want to be in this relationship anymore, so why am I so upset!? Why do I feel so sad and angry? The thought of him laughing and joking and turning on the charm for this woman, while I was unwell and still trying to help him, still forgiving him for the continual promises/let downs cycle. I was clinging on and all the while he was in “new relationship mode” with someone else. I feel tossed aside like a useless rag. I gave far too much and all the while he had just gotten bored and moved on, only didn’t want the difficulty of a conversation about it!

I sent him a message last night with the woman’s name and a “really..?” He read the message and hasn’t even replied. Not even a “sorry”. Nothing at all. Which is typical of course. He avoids all difficult conversations and then usually blames the woman “oh I couldn’t talk to you, Busty, as you were clearly upset”. I’m sure that’s what he would say. Same with his ex. He dumped her out of the blue and he refused to speak to her saying she was too upset. Apparently he would storm out their house every time she tried to have a conversation with him about it. But of course he has always blamed her and said she was too emotional and he was being pressured to talk when he wasn’t ready (or some such rubbish!).

He’s been caught out now though. I was told last night by a friend. He didn’t even bother trying to hide this new relationship from our friends! It’s a terrible shock, even though in my heart I knew. I just can’t fathom how someone could do this to me, who only last week was sending messages saying he was so upset at the end of our relationship and that he loved me!! WTF?!

I feel so naive. Before him I was married for twenty years and I don’t really have any experience of anyone else. This behaviour in relationships isn’t normal to me! I should have seen it coming. I did see it coming. And yet….. 😢

Ohdostopwafflinggeremy · 11/03/2026 07:55

Im so sorry @BustyLaRoux. What a prick. No words of wisdom im afraid, just sorry you're still dealing with the aftermath of this relationship.
The coldness and cruelty he has show is appalling, and I understand how devastated you must feel.
I can imagine you just assumed that underneath all the obvious narcissism, self absorption, selfishness and anger, he was still a somewhat decent human being. Just remember he was always this person. This is who he is.
Sending you lots of love and hugs 🫂 🫂🫂

BustyLaRoux · 11/03/2026 08:06

Yes Waffling, maybe that’s it. Maybe I wanted to believe our time had just come to a natural end. No hard feelings. We would still be friends. I’m friendly with my exDH, I don’t do bad feeling! Despite him being delusional and unreliable I always trusted he wouldn’t hurt me like this. He had always said I was/am the love of his life and he is grateful to me for everything I’ve done and put up with. How can that be true though, if he couldn’t even be decent enough to end the relationship before starting up a new one. In broad daylight, in front of his DC (I still see and speak to his DD!) and in front of our friends! It’s just so disrespectful! I am so hurt. I don’t want to hate him. I don’t want to have to experience those shit emotions. I still have loads of my stuff at his house. I can’t imagine seeing his face. Everything I thought for the last six years is a lie because despite everything I always gave him the benefit of the doubt. I always tried to maintain that he was a good person who did love me. But he wasn’t. I was just useful, and now I am not. It is beyond cruel.

Is this all we are to them? Just useful.

ItReallyDoesntMatterAnymore · 11/03/2026 08:29

Reading back a few pages I am so sorry to hear about the lack of care and support re your health situation @Ohdostopwafflinggeremy you deserve so much more. Is there any way of breaking free in the future, when you are better position re health? Not sure if that is helpful but it really spunds like you've reached the final straw. Big hugs 🫂

So cross on your behalf @BustyLaRoux !! What a scum to go behind your back when you were unwell. It's almost into narc territory when they find a new target (sure there is another word) as they either feel the current one is pulling away or not supplying the 'fuel' and no longer serves that function. Heartless and cowardly. It must hurt so much and yes, it would really hurt, even now when you know the relationship wasn't healthy or working for you. It's the betrayal of trust when you put so much love, effort and time in, such like cleaning for him at Christmas!

Ohdostopwafflinggeremy · 11/03/2026 08:31

Sadly @BustyLaRoux I dont think he'll feel he has done anything wrong. There is no depth of feeling. You were his partner, now you're not. All the things you have helped him with since your breakup is not relevant to him. He probably was grateful for all the practical stuff, but it didn't transfer to anything emotional. You helped him out even after you broke up because after 6 years you still cared for him and saw he was struggling. He let you do the stuff because it needed done and you offered to do it.

The emotional aspect simply stopped for him once you moved out and stopped being an item.
For him it probably is that black and white: Useful or not useful = keep or discard. 🫂

Pashazade · 11/03/2026 08:40

I’m sorry @BustyLaRoux that must sting. But chin up, block him, start refusing to give him head space, try not to dwell, I know that is easier said than done but try and refocus yourself if you catch yourself ruminating over it. I talk to friends a lot when annoying/emotional stuff has gone down I’ve realised that’s how I process DH doing emotionally impactful things! You’d made the decision things were over, he’s still an arse, just more of one than you’d realised. Hugs. (Btw being pissed off and hurt over the fact you were replaced is completely normal we all like to think other people need us etc etc and it is a horrible mixture of confusion, rejection, heartache and damaged pride when it turns out they don’t.)

BustyLaRoux · 11/03/2026 09:09

Ohdostopwafflinggeremy · 11/03/2026 08:31

Sadly @BustyLaRoux I dont think he'll feel he has done anything wrong. There is no depth of feeling. You were his partner, now you're not. All the things you have helped him with since your breakup is not relevant to him. He probably was grateful for all the practical stuff, but it didn't transfer to anything emotional. You helped him out even after you broke up because after 6 years you still cared for him and saw he was struggling. He let you do the stuff because it needed done and you offered to do it.

The emotional aspect simply stopped for him once you moved out and stopped being an item.
For him it probably is that black and white: Useful or not useful = keep or discard. 🫂

The thing is we weren’t broken up! We were still limping on. I was helping because I felt I should. I couldn’t offer much as I was so unwell, so I did what I could…

Theydontwantme · 11/03/2026 09:11

BustyLaRoux · 11/03/2026 08:06

Yes Waffling, maybe that’s it. Maybe I wanted to believe our time had just come to a natural end. No hard feelings. We would still be friends. I’m friendly with my exDH, I don’t do bad feeling! Despite him being delusional and unreliable I always trusted he wouldn’t hurt me like this. He had always said I was/am the love of his life and he is grateful to me for everything I’ve done and put up with. How can that be true though, if he couldn’t even be decent enough to end the relationship before starting up a new one. In broad daylight, in front of his DC (I still see and speak to his DD!) and in front of our friends! It’s just so disrespectful! I am so hurt. I don’t want to hate him. I don’t want to have to experience those shit emotions. I still have loads of my stuff at his house. I can’t imagine seeing his face. Everything I thought for the last six years is a lie because despite everything I always gave him the benefit of the doubt. I always tried to maintain that he was a good person who did love me. But he wasn’t. I was just useful, and now I am not. It is beyond cruel.

Is this all we are to them? Just useful.

I’m so sorry. We are always the ones who are hurt because we have feelings, because we are a complete human person. People who don’t see people as a complete always move on with no issues. My ex after a decade signed up to dating websites using the joint account in 2 weeks. Those who posses empathy are always the ones to suffer. For what it’s worth it’s not you this is who they are. They can fake and hide all they want but they just don’t possess the feeling part of being human, they’ve no guilt and no remorse. Don’t gaslight yourself, it wasn’t because you were ill or you needed support it’s because he’s a selfish twat.

BustyLaRoux · 11/03/2026 09:13

@Pashazade maybe it’s my pride (I really don’t have much!). The thought of him being all best foot forward and charming to this new person….. I’m not even a jealous person! I think it’s that I was so vulnerable and broken and sad. Trying to be supportive, patient and forgiving and he’s just thrown it in my face, got bored, found a new target to be his plaything. He has treated all his previous partners so badly and I stupidly thought I would be afforded a little more respect. it really stings. I can’t stop crying. I’m trying to work. It’s all so hurtful though.

Theydontwantme · 11/03/2026 09:20

BustyLaRoux · 11/03/2026 09:13

@Pashazade maybe it’s my pride (I really don’t have much!). The thought of him being all best foot forward and charming to this new person….. I’m not even a jealous person! I think it’s that I was so vulnerable and broken and sad. Trying to be supportive, patient and forgiving and he’s just thrown it in my face, got bored, found a new target to be his plaything. He has treated all his previous partners so badly and I stupidly thought I would be afforded a little more respect. it really stings. I can’t stop crying. I’m trying to work. It’s all so hurtful though.

It’s not pride. It’s the goodness in you responding to the situation. You projected your goodness onto him. I am guilty of this and I suffer being ND myself to understand that others aren’t the same. Don’t let it effect the goodness in you.

Theydontwantme · 11/03/2026 09:37

I read about c-ptsd and about it being a moral wounding, which is why it hits so deep. I’m not saying that the effects of an ASD partner cause this but I think it affects us morally and deeply because of our feelings. Those with less feeling don’t get impacted deep. Which is why we end up in therapy and they don’t.

SpecialMangeTout3 · 11/03/2026 19:26

I think some men (many men) just can’t live without a woman in their life. So they just hop from one relationship to the next. No break. And often with some overlap. They simply can’t stand being alone.
MN is full of those stories unfortunately:((

@BustyLaRoux im sorry 🫂🫂
This must be really hurtful.
Just remember that it says nothing about you.

OP posts:
SpecialMangeTout3 · 11/03/2026 19:53

@Theydontwantme I’m assuming you didn’t mean that people on the spectrum have less feelings?

Fwiw I really don’t think cptsd has anything to do with having more or less feelings. It’s a normal reaction to an unsafe environment. And many autistic people also suffer from trauma. Some would say most autistic people do (due to friction between the NT world and ND functioning)

OP posts:
SpecialMangeTout3 · 11/03/2026 19:56

@Ohdostopwafflinggeremy do you have an idea of what your next steps could be?

If I remember well, you’re still waiting for your results, so I imagine this means it’s the wrong time for you to do anything just now, bar looking after yourself and putting things in place so you ARE supported (but not by him)

OP posts:
Echobelly · 11/03/2026 20:07

DH and I had a good catch up with DS's therapist this morning. No particular surprises - he feels pressure to get really good marks, he's scared of DH's temper, that he worries about failing etc. So we had a talk to him tonight, firstly for DH to say he's not at all angry with DS for sharing his feelings (that is what the therapist is for) and he can share what he wants or ask her to keep back anything he wouldn't want to talk to us about if that's what he prefers.

We also reiterated that we don't expect him to get top marks, but we want to help him get to the next stage in the right way for him. I let him know we'll be trying out some English tutors in the next few weeks and he seemed OK with that.

Also we agreed he could use laptop in his room again - DH had told him only to use it in the lounge so we could see what he was doing but it hasn't made any difference to anything, and now he's got a nice room he should use it. He seemed glad of that.

WindyW · 12/03/2026 07:10

Sorry Busty. What a shit! No wonder you feel raging, it’s self protection mode ultimately, which is good. At least you can look back and say you acted with integrity throughout.

@Ohdostopwafflinggeremy sounds like you’re in self protective mode too. I’m also trying to do the radical acceptance thing. I’m working with my therapist to stop over functioning. That means basically to stop holding others in mind and doing all the anticipation work. In family systems, sometimes that causes others to step up, but I also have to accept that it may mean no clean clothes, no meals cooked, no holidays planned. Yet there is an emotional truth to this path that I also hear from your post. No more ‘covering’ let’s just see it all. Thinking of you.

NDisthisit · 12/03/2026 07:47

@BustyLaRouxso sorry to read this. It’s the worst when you find out that all the time you have been worrying and trying to meet everyone’s needs with good intentions- they have just merrily gone off and put them selves first…. Again! You sound strong and intelligent- better that’s he’s out of your life taking up space xx

SpecialMangeTout3 · 12/03/2026 08:57

@WindyW how are you getting on with not over functioning?

I find that really hard to do. I still feel hugely responsible when things go wrong😁😁. Like getting news and staying in touch with our adult dcs. He moans he hasn’t been told anything (and I think he is hurt by it) but isn’t taking steps to like, send them a message to see how exams went or how was a trip ….🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️
Yet I feel responsible that I’m not including him (he is told everything though….)

OP posts:
SpecialMangeTout3 · 12/03/2026 08:57

@WindyW how are you getting on with not over functioning?

I find that really hard to do. I still feel hugely responsible when things go wrong😁😁. Like getting news and staying in touch with our adult dcs. He moans he hasn’t been told anything (and I think he is hurt by it) but isn’t taking steps to like, send them a message to see how exams went or how was a trip ….🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️
Yet I feel responsible that I’m not including him (he is told everything though….)

OP posts: