Dating help with Aspergers boyfriend- please !!

My on again off again boyfriend has Aspergers. We are both in our 40s. He was diagnosed as a child  but didn’t have much awareness of how it affects him until we began dating, because he says he was just used to it.  We both love each other dearly and are very comfortable communicating our feelings and daily challenges. By his words I’m the love of his life and he just can’t imagine loving me more but he is also terrified of hurting me. He says he is crazy. I hate that term. I try and reassure him that his issues do not scare me. However, it is a rollercoaster with him because he periodically freaks out saying ‘he isn’t ready’ for a relationship because he he thinks he is crazy and we have to break up because he ‘just isn’t ready’. When this happens , we are both miserable and we get back together. He says he wants to be married but just isn’t ready because he perceives himself as crazy and doesn’t know if he can ever be fixed. He overthinks all the responsibilities of marriage. How can we get past this? Is this a time thing? His issues don’t scare me. I am being candid here and try not to pressure him.  I love him with all my heart and would marry him in a heartbeat if he was ready. 

All advice appreciated. thank you.  

Parents
  • It can take years to develop a friendship. I don't invest in others lightly. And when I do there is an incredible amount of work to break away. 

    Vulnerability can be hard for anyone. And you also don't want to be knocked about. Propose a two - three weeks on / one week off (for a year- always set limits)  to him or something that gives absolute disciplined space for everyone so you're not breaking up. Negotiate! Then renegotiate a year later. Sometimes I can't function when there's others in the room - I can be over-aware and then fail to do things like show up to work or break a dish or miss a deadline. Extra humans can make it hard to focus because my defalut position is to hyper-focus on you regardless of what you're asking for and that will tax everyone at some point.

    It sounds like you can rest assured you'll stay together and affording him EXACT space (this is incredibly important - no calls, no texts, no responsibilities looming over his head). Take that week off to catch up on all books on your reading list, take up a new hobby, watch whatever you want, have a series of freinds nights out. It's useful for all humans NTs and NDs alike to spend quality time pampering themselves - you WILL have a more healthy relationship for it in the long-term. 

Reply
  • It can take years to develop a friendship. I don't invest in others lightly. And when I do there is an incredible amount of work to break away. 

    Vulnerability can be hard for anyone. And you also don't want to be knocked about. Propose a two - three weeks on / one week off (for a year- always set limits)  to him or something that gives absolute disciplined space for everyone so you're not breaking up. Negotiate! Then renegotiate a year later. Sometimes I can't function when there's others in the room - I can be over-aware and then fail to do things like show up to work or break a dish or miss a deadline. Extra humans can make it hard to focus because my defalut position is to hyper-focus on you regardless of what you're asking for and that will tax everyone at some point.

    It sounds like you can rest assured you'll stay together and affording him EXACT space (this is incredibly important - no calls, no texts, no responsibilities looming over his head). Take that week off to catch up on all books on your reading list, take up a new hobby, watch whatever you want, have a series of freinds nights out. It's useful for all humans NTs and NDs alike to spend quality time pampering themselves - you WILL have a more healthy relationship for it in the long-term. 

Children