As sweet as-pie
Well-Known Member
Hi all, I am in a long term relationship with my current (NT) boyfriend who I started dating in 2013.
I self-diagnosed in early 2016 and got my official diagnosis at the start of this year. I've always been very open with him about how I think and see the world and also about my autism diagnosis from the time I self-dx'd.
However, he recently told me that since I got my professional diagnosis, he feels as if he's learning how I am and it's taking him time to adjust to it. He says this isn't an issue for him and it doesn't change how he feels. He knows me very well and he already knows how I think. I feel as if this is mainly to do with his/society's perception of autism, as I haven't changed at all, the only thing that's changed is that now I have a name and a piece of paper for what I am.
I've told him to ask me any questions he has about autism as a whole, but he can't think of anything specific. I'm worried that he's seeing me differently, as he says he needs to learn more about autism when in fact he already knows how I think and act and he's very good at understanding me and knowing what to do in a given situation and of course : "if you've met one autistic person, you've met one autistic person".
How should I approach this? What would you want an NT partner to know about autism/you? To those with NT partners/ex-partners, how did they react to your diagnosis?
I self-diagnosed in early 2016 and got my official diagnosis at the start of this year. I've always been very open with him about how I think and see the world and also about my autism diagnosis from the time I self-dx'd.
However, he recently told me that since I got my professional diagnosis, he feels as if he's learning how I am and it's taking him time to adjust to it. He says this isn't an issue for him and it doesn't change how he feels. He knows me very well and he already knows how I think. I feel as if this is mainly to do with his/society's perception of autism, as I haven't changed at all, the only thing that's changed is that now I have a name and a piece of paper for what I am.
I've told him to ask me any questions he has about autism as a whole, but he can't think of anything specific. I'm worried that he's seeing me differently, as he says he needs to learn more about autism when in fact he already knows how I think and act and he's very good at understanding me and knowing what to do in a given situation and of course : "if you've met one autistic person, you've met one autistic person".
How should I approach this? What would you want an NT partner to know about autism/you? To those with NT partners/ex-partners, how did they react to your diagnosis?