Published on 12, July, 2020
My husband and I have been married for 44 years but the last 4 have been very stressful due to family problems and my sister’s death. My husband seems to have little ability to put himself in my shoes and constantly refers to his own inner world. Looking back there have been other times when life has hit me hard and he has seemed unable to help. When we socialise, his contributions to the conversation are all about him. He rarely takes any interest in the other people there. Those who know us a couple think of him as a gentle, kindly man. I feel very lonely in this marriage and unable to express my frustration to anyone. I wonder if he might be on the Asperger spectrum and if so, how to put it to him, and get help!
The 44 years of marriage means that you grew up in an era where the stigma of mental health was much greater than now. So it is natural that you are anxious on what to do and how to go about broaching the subject.
In addition to the online tests there are a number of areas you can consider looking back at your 44 years together.
Routine/change
Social (invites)
New things and learning (there have been a lot of changes and new advances in 44 years)
Jokes/sarcasm (literal mind)
Principled
Puzzles/games? Sudoku or Scrabble?
Empathy - films/books - soaps/documentaries
Hopefully, these may have provided food for thought and some suggestions as a way forward. None of the suggestions will be indicative of ASD but provided as a way to add flesh to the online test (if you choose to take it). But by finding out about the traits in ASD and ways that they may display in somebody may provide the opportunity or situation when you will be more comfortable in "grasping the nettle".