Hi all! I'm a neurotypical (well, sort of- I do have bipolar disorder and some autistic traits) who is here not for myself but for my fiance. He is high functioning enough to hold down a job, and is jaw-droppingly intelligent, but he sometimes has trouble expressing himself (especially when he is not feeling well). He is currently not well, and I am trying to figure out how to support him. He is cuddly with me, but is otherwise a zero-touch person. I have to cut his hair because he won't go to the barber, for example, and it took him about a decade to get to a single doctor's appointment because of touch fears.
Two days ago a female friend, just being warm and playful, got quite physically affectionate with him. She does not know he has autism- he's pretty shy about telling others. Since then he has been in a spaz that I haven't witnessed before in my 4 years with him. He keeps twitching, punching himself in the face and legs, moaning, hiding under blankets and pillows. He's restless and can't calm down or focus.
When I've asked what he is experiencing, he tells me it's like 1000 TV's in his brain with the volume turned up and going on and off and changing channels rapidly. I have asked if there are any coherent thoughts that we can talk about and work through (like "I've been violated" or "I'm angry") but he tells me there's not. Really he's telling me nothing except that he still feels her touching him, like a phantom touch. He seems to be in so much pain. He doesn't know what to do and neither do I.
Can anyone toss me an understanding of this situation? And some coping skills? The usual things aren't calming him down this time. Thank you so much for reading and responding!
Two days ago a female friend, just being warm and playful, got quite physically affectionate with him. She does not know he has autism- he's pretty shy about telling others. Since then he has been in a spaz that I haven't witnessed before in my 4 years with him. He keeps twitching, punching himself in the face and legs, moaning, hiding under blankets and pillows. He's restless and can't calm down or focus.
When I've asked what he is experiencing, he tells me it's like 1000 TV's in his brain with the volume turned up and going on and off and changing channels rapidly. I have asked if there are any coherent thoughts that we can talk about and work through (like "I've been violated" or "I'm angry") but he tells me there's not. Really he's telling me nothing except that he still feels her touching him, like a phantom touch. He seems to be in so much pain. He doesn't know what to do and neither do I.
Can anyone toss me an understanding of this situation? And some coping skills? The usual things aren't calming him down this time. Thank you so much for reading and responding!
