To give some background on me. I am 56 and been married for almost 10 years, known my wife for 12. We have had a rocky marriage, including some separations. I just found out that I'm autistic a year ago. She identifies as ADHD and "on the spectrum".
So, she still to this day questions my "armchair physician" self diagnosis. It is not uncommon for intense emotion to burst out due to regulation problems. I try to communicate with her even when we are both calm but it .. helps a fraction of an amount .. for a few days ...
I am insisting on couples counseling for us. We communicate well but not when we don't, then it is horrid.
So, I'm not sure what I'm asking for in this post. But I wonder.
How do any of you deal with a long-term relationship that is always on the rocks and always about to go off the rails, but still has the whole co-dependent mutually afraid vibe? I want to fix this. Or at least make it more stable.
We will always be who we are.
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an owl caught in a spider's web