Should I involve my as bf in my social life?

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Hlbjag
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05 Aug 2015, 7:34 pm

I am very, very social and obviously my AS boyfriend (of almost 5 years) is not. He has no friends (other than me) and doesn't care to. Any time I have plans I invite him (out of courtesy) and he says he wants to join, anytime I suggest plans with another couple he agrees. Since the beginning I could tell being around others is not at all enjoyable for him. While I love having him around, he makes my time with friends less enjoyable. I am constantly concerned about him and used to spend my time trying to make him more comfortable. Once I realized this was not possible I would simply socialize on my own and leave him to sit in silence in his chair. My friends are constantly asking what is wrong and worried about him but I assure them that he is fine and happy. The problem is that he always wants to attend everything with me but then sits in the corner, in the car, tries to get me to leave or starts an argument with me. For example at my last high school reunion I asked if he wanted to go and explained that I am very excited to see everyone and will be walking around talking so wouldn't be right there with him. He wanted to go. After the first half hour of introducing him he disappeared. I just kept talking until a number of my school friends asked where he was. I found him sitting in the car. I went back in for a bit determined to not let him ruin my night but then felt bad and just left. If I tell him he can't come because I just want to enjoy myself he gets mad or accuses me of wanting to meet other guys (which I don't). I am understanding of his aversion to being around others and love that he likes to spend time with me but how do I maintain friendships and enjoy a social life when he makes it impossible for me to enjoy myself. Many friends have stopped inviting me to things because of him. I can't function in isolation like he can. What do I do?



starfox
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05 Aug 2015, 7:39 pm

If your really social then why are you with him? :-/ doesn't match.


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Marky9
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05 Aug 2015, 7:47 pm

It reads as though you have made reasonable efforts at altering things so that they might work better. If I correctly understand the results have not been satisfactory, then it could be one is down to either adjusting expectations or making difficult choices.



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05 Aug 2015, 7:57 pm

Well, that isn't a given that an AS person doesn't like to socialize. Some of us do. I have AS and I enjoy socializing much more than my NT husband does. He prefers to chill out in front of the tv and at times I'd rather go out with friends. I go out when I want to and he sttays home. I invite him but he doesnt't want to go and that is fine.

Of course we have been married 28years and in the very beginning it wasn't like that. I stayed home with him or he went out with me because in the first part of a relationship, that's how it is.

I'd suggest you both compromise. You stay home sometimes with him when he wants to and he goes out with you sometimes when you want to. Then if you are compatable and still together after a while, you will start to find your groove that works for you. Unless he's one of those jealous guys who have to have their head right up your butt all the time, and in that case I'd suggest not even dating him because that gets old fast. But then, you never know.


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Hlbjag
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05 Aug 2015, 8:00 pm

starfox wrote:
If your really social then why are you with him? :-/ doesn't match.


I get that question a lot. The short and simple answer is that I am committed. Many things are great, many need some attention (like any relationship). That is why I am asking for advice.



Hlbjag
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05 Aug 2015, 8:03 pm

Marky9 wrote:
It reads as though you have made reasonable efforts at altering things so that they might work better. If I correctly understand the results have not been satisfactory, then it could be one is down to either adjusting expectations or making difficult choices.


You are right, results haven't been in either of our favor. I guess I am wondering how others with aspergers deal with this situation or would deal with it. Or how other nt's maintained their social life in this type of relationship.



Hlbjag
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05 Aug 2015, 8:12 pm

OliveOilMom wrote:
Well, that isn't a given that an AS person doesn't like to socialize. Some of us do. I have AS and I enjoy socializing much more than my NT husband does. He prefers to chill out in front of the tv and at times I'd rather go out with friends. I go out when I want to and he sttays home. I invite him but he doesnt't want to go and that is fine.

Of course we have been married 28years and in the very beginning it wasn't like that. I stayed home with him or he went out with me because in the first part of a relationship, that's how it is.

I'd suggest you both compromise. You stay home sometimes with him when he wants to and he goes out with you sometimes when you want to. Then if you are compatable and still together after a while, you will start to find your groove that works for you. Unless he's one of those jealous guys who have to have their head right up your butt all the time, and in that case I'd suggest not even dating him because that gets old fast. But then, you never know.


Thank you, I am sorry, it was a generalization and can really be applied to anyone. I know someone with aspergers who is also very social. In my case he is not. I agree a compromise needs to be made. He is however very jealous which is another obstacle. Not dating him is not an option though. Figuring it out is.



Hlbjag
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05 Aug 2015, 8:55 pm

Drawyer wrote:
I can tell I was there in your boyfriend's position. It was like me being tortured socializing with my ex boy friend's companies. He always wanted me to join them and I joined them only because I knew he wanted to be with me. I said lying that I wanted to join as well because I didn't want him to think that I didn't want to be with him and I knew my joining with his companies made him happy.

It's highly possible that he liked/likes to be alone ALL THE TIME like I did/do even when he seemed to enjoy being around people. He was born as a loner which is not something changeable. But he sort of has sacrificed himself in order to make you happy, because there is nothing important more than you in his life that he would give up all his beings for you.

Having said that your boy friend would always want you to be yourself as well. He never want himself to be a causer who fixes you into another person who wasn't you before. So..if that happens he would feel like he forced you to be trapped in his cage which makes him feel heavy guilty.

So if you are not a happy loner at all, you two are going to make each other exhausted in the end. It's better not start this kind of opposite attraction relationship in the first place.


Thank you. I can not imagine the stress of being in your position. I have done a lot of research to try to understand the gap in our differences and that is why I accept and often encourage him to just stay home and enjoy his time. But... he always wants to go with me. None of us are easy to live with and we all have different personalities and it takes an abundance of understanding. My trying to not exhaust him is exhausting me. This is not about choosing whether or not to deal with it but more how to deal with it so we are both happy and comfortable.



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05 Aug 2015, 9:08 pm

My husband is a lot more social than I am, and I always wanted to go with him because I just wanted to be with him, though I was often awkward and quiet. I never abandoned him, though. It is possible the social situations are causing anxiety problems or something else with your boyfriend?

One thing that really helped with my husband and I as far as communicating went was writing letters (since I'm not good at speaking my thoughts coherently). We tell the each other how we feel about something and try to find a work-around. We find it's better to be completely open with each other so we can be aware of situations and how the other might be feeling. Has your boyfriend told you how he feels in social situations and what might make it better, or at least easier?


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Hlbjag
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05 Aug 2015, 9:19 pm

kamiyu910 wrote:
My husband is a lot more social than I am, and I always wanted to go with him because I just wanted to be with him, though I was often awkward and quiet. I never abandoned him, though. It is possible the social situations are causing anxiety problems or something else with your boyfriend?

One thing that really helped with my husband and I as far as communicating went was writing letters (since I'm not good at speaking my thoughts coherently). We tell the each other how we feel about something and try to find a work-around. We find it's better to be completely open with each other so we can be aware of situations and how the other might be feeling. Has your boyfriend told you how he feels in social situations and what might make it better, or at least easier?


That is a really great suggestion. And I feel silly for not considering just asking him. I ask him if he wants to go, I explain the people we will be with and how the nights events will go. I give him the opportunity to opt out if he wants. I have read that it can be uncomfortable and can see how he acts so I just take precautions. I ask during how he is and he always says fine even though I know he isn't. But I have not had a conversation about it with him outside of the stressful moment. I will definitely be taking your advice and asking him how he feels when we are with other people. Hopefully it will open up some ideas of compromise.



kamiyu910
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05 Aug 2015, 9:25 pm

Hlbjag wrote:
kamiyu910 wrote:
My husband is a lot more social than I am, and I always wanted to go with him because I just wanted to be with him, though I was often awkward and quiet. I never abandoned him, though. It is possible the social situations are causing anxiety problems or something else with your boyfriend?

One thing that really helped with my husband and I as far as communicating went was writing letters (since I'm not good at speaking my thoughts coherently). We tell the each other how we feel about something and try to find a work-around. We find it's better to be completely open with each other so we can be aware of situations and how the other might be feeling. Has your boyfriend told you how he feels in social situations and what might make it better, or at least easier?


That is a really great suggestion. And I feel silly for not considering just asking him. I ask him if he wants to go, I explain the people we will be with and how the nights events will go. I give him the opportunity to opt out if he wants. I have read that it can be uncomfortable and can see how he acts so I just take precautions. I ask during how he is and he always says fine even though I know he isn't. But I have not had a conversation about it with him outside of the stressful moment. I will definitely be taking your advice and asking him how he feels when we are with other people. Hopefully it will open up some ideas of compromise.


I really hope it helps! It's been a lifesaver for us!


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05 Aug 2015, 10:03 pm

I think you should. He'd enjoy that time with you a lot. Even if he doesn't socialize much with your friends, he'd enjoy just being there with you.


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Hlbjag
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05 Aug 2015, 10:15 pm

CockneyRebel wrote:
I think you should. He'd enjoy that time with you a lot. Even if he doesn't socialize much with your friends, he'd enjoy just being there with you.


He does like being with me and I love that about him. I love being with him too. We spend a lot of time together. More than not, it is just on the occasions that require social interaction, maybe once a week. To me that is very little, to him that is too much. For me 3 to 4 days is normal but have changed that for him. Not complaining, just trying to make it work. I have a very amazing companion in life. Frustrating but worth it!! !



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05 Aug 2015, 10:36 pm

I think you have a very serious problem here. I guess all couples have different ideas about how much of their lives they will share, but I think social life is rather a biggie, and if you can't share it without trouble, it's a bad sign.

Do you think this jealousy of his is sexual jealousy, or can he simply not stand you to be friendly even with other women? Do you talk fairly openly with each other about the feelings behind this failure to share social things?



Hlbjag
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06 Aug 2015, 8:49 am

ToughDiamond wrote:
I think you have a very serious problem here. I guess all couples have different ideas about how much of their lives they will share, but I think social life is rather a biggie, and if you can't share it without trouble, it's a bad sign.

Do you think this jealousy of his is sexual jealousy, or can he simply not stand you to be friendly even with other women? Do you talk fairly openly with each other about the feelings behind this failure to share social things?


He definitely does not like me talking to guys and I have to constantly reassure him that I chose to be with him and have no desire for another. But I can tell he doesn't like me talking with anyone. I think he can't understand why I need other relationships because he doesn't need them. And that he thinks he should be enough for me so when I do things with others it makes him feel inadequate.



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06 Aug 2015, 8:52 am

He has to become more secure. You can't make him more secure. He has to do that for himself--with perhaps some help from you.