I’m often asked if it’s hard for people with autism to find love. The answer…Yes! Finding love is challenging for ALL of us; so, naturally, having hard wired social difficulties exponentially raises the bar for dating dilemmas. Some of the core Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnostic deficits contribute to this challenge: rigid thinking and behaviors, poor perspective taking, limited communication skills, emotional and sensory challenges and decreased attention to details.
Additionally, there are societal and cultural issues which compound the matter further: Internet age: fewer social contacts brings fewer social (live) encounters, less practice, less skill to an already shaky skill set, false sense of “friends” (thank you Facebook), and difficulty meeting online contacts if out of geographical area.
Further, negative social history or experiences significantly impact confidence and risk taking. All too often ASD teens are teased, rejected and worse yet, bullied, at a time when typically developing kids are practicing social initiations.
Some teens and young adults on the spectrum may develop indifference toward romantic relationships as a result of these painful social experiences and others continue to develop typical desires for love and romance.
An unfortunate consequence of repeated social and romantic “failure” can lead to significant emotional distress.
This picture may sound very negative…however, my message is: do not give up! I remind all of my students, those on the autism spectrum and those who are not, that we ALL get rejected more times than we have romantic success! In fact, having an ASD can bring some VERY desirable traits to the dating game: fiercely loyal, intelligent, kind-hearted, compassionate, non-judgmental, and consistency to name a few.
And while these digital days present challenges, there are many built in advantages: increased anonymity decreases anxiety, time delay to think through, change or delete a thought, and repeated contact to determine likes or need to discontinue relationship with less effort/money/time spent to name a few.
BUT, I strongly advise to take safety measures (i.e. research identity of person, get pictures and cross-check facts) and if possible, meet in person (in public location, have an undisclosed friend there, have a back out plan ready, check out meeting place in advance to increase comfort level). Some common dating pitfalls include acting too eager (reduces ability to spot red flags and can push others away) as well as being too persistent (missing social cues can lead to repeated requests — I recommend a general “three strikes, you’re out” rule of thumb; behavior may be perceived as “stalking” which can result in legal problems). Still, with ASD’s so prevalent, our first responders are receiving more specialized training around the country to learn about traits and behaviors which may reflect an ASD and not true delinquency.
SO, want to get love or keep love? GET SMART:
S – Self-knowledge (learn about your diagnosis, increase self-awareness)
M – Manage stress (emotional and sensory needs)
A – Ask questions and ask for feedback
R- Reduce rigidity (stretch thinking patterns and flexible behaviors)
T- Take your time (FRIENDS FIRST – why date someone who’s not a good friend?)
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Aspie Dating: 10 Things to Keep in Mind When Looking for Love
How to make this happen? Seek professional and peer support. There are specialists to help develop social skills, social thinking, self-awareness and self-acceptance. Only when you understand your own needs and abilities can you partner with someone to manage the challenges of the love language! There are many young adults on the autism spectrum who find love and enjoy long-term, satisfying romantic relationships. Allowing for unique differences, honest communication, mutual admiration and respect, as well as ability to compromise are the key ingredients for relationship success — with or without an ASD.
This article was featured in Issue 48 – Connecting and Communicating with Autism
