It seems I missed a lot while I was writing the below, but hopefully it is helpful anyway.
imhere wrote:
Britte, I've been thinking that about the alexithymia issue for quite a while. This hit home when I asked him if he wanted me to go to a performance of his, he honestly could not answer about if he wanted me there or not, and I really don't think he knew if he did or did not, and this happened on two separate occasions. The first time I went--he was surprised but not angry or anything. The second time, I was frustrated that he couldn't just tell me (I did not know then what I know now), so I didn't go...would you believe the next day he was grumpy and I can't help but to wonder if it was because I was not there.
Interestingly, he asked me on multiple occasions what I thought of HIM. I'm guess this was because he could not analyze that for himself, totally understandable for an aspie. I answered his question in context each time (once it was about his work but once it was personal). But what he probably didn't understand was that I have no idea how he felt about me, and when asked directly the way he asked me, he can't answer. If alexithymia is an issue for him, I suspect he has no idea what that is.
I've tried to learn what I can, but what I really need is to know how HE feels. Not what the research says he may feel or what he may fear. Like I keep feeling: there is a distinct possibility that he just can't stand me. Or it's the Asperger's. Two very different things, but there is no way for me to know, and like you said, I've suspected for some time that he does not know. It seems like an impossible situation. Everyone else around us knew we were close...everyone except for him.
![Shocked 8O](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
Also, I do love him for all of who he is, I just have no idea how he feels about me.
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
While I've never read up on that particular condition, I will share how I feel based on everything I've read from you (which isn't everything):
He does care about you. The problem is, I don't think he cares about you in the way you need him to, or at the level you hope for him to, and I don't see that as something you can change. I also think he may know this. This whole situation has you tied up in knots, and that isn't the way love is supposed to feel. That isn't going to change until you realize it isn't meant to be. My son spent 2 years in this kind of dance with a girl and I really hope she wasn't putting as much into it as you are into this guy because he just wasn't there for her (except a few times when she pounded him over the head with it). I think you should put him in a "dear friend" box, someone that has been in your life for some reason you'll figure out a few decades from now, then disentangle yourself emotionally. I know letting go isn't easy, but you will be happier once you do.
Life is full of relationships that involve a lot of caring and even love but are not meant to be. I honestly believe that is what you have. You have to stop looking for little crumbs of hope and let yourself move on.
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Mom to an amazing young adult AS son, plus an also amazing non-AS daughter. Most likely part of the "Broader Autism Phenotype" (some traits).
Last edited by DW_a_mom on 09 Oct 2017, 4:42 pm, edited 3 times in total.