Expressing Emotions While In A Relationship

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butterpecancream
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11 Apr 2025, 9:26 pm

As a person with autism in a relationship, I struggle with expressing emotions to my partner in words. I can say "I Love You", truly meaning it, but when it comes to describing my feelings on a deeper level (such as going in depth with my feelings), I have a hard time. It's like a brick wall that I can't knock down is in front of me when it comes to this issue.

Do you struggle with expressing your in depth emotions to your partner and if so, what helped you get through this issue?
(NT advice is wanted also. Hope I didn't offend with this last sentence.)



babybird
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13 Apr 2025, 3:32 pm

Oh that's a good question
I'll have to give it some thought
I hope you can get the help you need


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MatchboxVagabond
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13 Apr 2025, 3:36 pm

butterpecancream wrote:
As a person with autism in a relationship, I struggle with expressing emotions to my partner in words. I can say "I Love You", truly meaning it, but when it comes to describing my feelings on a deeper level (such as going in depth with my feelings), I have a hard time. It's like a brick wall that I can't knock down is in front of me when it comes to this issue.

Do you struggle with expressing your in depth emotions to your partner and if so, what helped you get through this issue?
(NT advice is wanted also. Hope I didn't offend with this last sentence.)

I do, in our case it's as much on her as it is on me as she isn't the best at actually understanding other people's emotions.

What I would say is that it's more important that the people involved understand how shows of affection are going to be made than forcing it to be words. Even for NTs often times words are not the way that it's shown, especially in cultures where it isn't encouraged to show emotions.



cyberdora
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13 Apr 2025, 3:50 pm

I think many of us can feel emotions, and even describe emotions but what's difficult for me is conveying how I authentically feel in words. As Doetchii says "denial is a river".



AzureChidori
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17 Apr 2025, 3:34 pm

do you have examples



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17 Apr 2025, 4:09 pm

MatchboxVagabond wrote:
What I would say is that it's more important that the people involved understand how shows of affection are going to be made than forcing it to be words. Even for NTs often times words are not the way that it's shown, especially in cultures where it isn't encouraged to show emotions.
I agree. I'm not good at expression affection in words except for telling my girlfriend I love her MANY times throughout the day/night & that I miss her when she's spending a couple days with her family or when I rarely travel by myself to visit mine. She needs a lot of emotional support though & I'm actually better at that. Sometimes giving a hug or a backrub can majorly help as well as just being there to listen to her rant when she's having a bad day & such.


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cyberdora
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17 Apr 2025, 6:26 pm

AzureChidori wrote:
do you have examples


Being called self-centred and lacking empathy when something bad has happened to loved ones. I myself have something of a delayed reaction as I do mull over things and rationalise it rather than immediately react like normies. In the end I can't pretend I feel something because I don't.

But deep down something may be brewing away. Its delayed because something like a song might set off emotions unintentionally and I suddenly remember what might be triggering me to feel emotional. Music sometimes is like an emotional door or support to help understand feelings I might have tucked away in my subconscious.



cyberdora
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17 Apr 2025, 6:29 pm

AzureChidori wrote:
do you have examples


On the other hand over-reacting or saying something inappropriate to otherwise regular obstacles/events in life giving people an impression I lack a filter or an emotional regulator. Something others on WP could relate more to.



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19 Apr 2025, 10:45 am

butterpecancream wrote:
As a person with autism in a relationship, I struggle with expressing emotions to my partner in words. I can say "I Love You", truly meaning it, but when it comes to describing my feelings on a deeper level (such as going in depth with my feelings), I have a hard time. It's like a brick wall that I can't knock down is in front of me when it comes to this issue.

Do you struggle with expressing your in depth emotions to your partner and if so, what helped you get through this issue?
(NT advice is wanted also. Hope I didn't offend with this last sentence.)


I'm a little late to this thread, but I really appreciate the question. I'm feeling stress right now because my boyfriend (who shows signs of being ND, but has never told me of a diagnosis) goes through stretches when he doesn't share much information about feelings. He will tell me he loves me daily (on the phone or when we are kissing, etc.) but he rarely shares a "why" or "how" or elaborates on his feelings. I have asked him directly, "What do you love about me?"
Several times he has said something like, "It's a natural feeling. I just love you."

I have decided not to push or prod for more. However, I actually keep a notebook/journal. When he tells me something with more details, I will write it down so that I can remind myself later. That may sound a little bit "out there." But my personality is more anxious and my natural inclination is to seek reassurance. It seems like once a month or so, he will spontaneously tell me something wonderful, and I want to save it so that I can remember it well.