Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi I'm Becky but everyone calls me Bex.
Anyway, I'm autistic, I was diagnosed when I was like 9 I think. I don't remember exactly when bit it was around that age. Anyway I've always struggled with different things like sensory problems and being overloaded by people and crowded places. Usually I vomit if I get to overloaded *rolls eyes*
So anyway I've always wanted to be in a relationship, just because I've always wanted to get married and have a baby. So my sister introduced me to a guy she knows and we've been seeing each other. We haven't really done much, like not kissed yet but we have hugged. I find it a bit confusing but I'm trying really hard to make this work.
Anyway I've always been quite childish, I still like Winnie the Pooh and children's TV programs. Yesterday my boyfriend came over and he asked if I would stop watching Winnie the Pooh, I asked why and he said it was embarrassing for someone my age to watch it.
That upset me a lot and I feel bad now. I really want our relationship to work but I can't really change who I am can i? Or do you think I should try? I don't want to be lonely.
Hey!
Thank you for sharing your story. I hope that I am going to be able to advise you and bring some positivity to the situation.
Firstly, please never feel that you have to change for someone - I know you may care for the person a lot and are obviously in a relationship. But at the end of the day, if they don't respect you and your ways, then maybe they are not worth the time or effort. This is not me being harsh, I have not been in a relationship properly before, but I did see someone for a few months and they asked me to change certain things about myself, the way I dressed, my interests, etc...and after a while, these things started to add up. So if your boyfriend wants you to stop watching Winnie the Pooh, there is a risk in the future that he may try to change other things in the future.
However, despite the above, maybe you could talk with your boyfriend and teach him about autism, and that as an autistic person, we have special interests, things we enjoy to do, and explain the reason behind this. By all means, don't go into too much depth about autism, as this could be overwhelming for him, but maybe just explain enough so that he can see things from your point of view!
(p.s. Winnie the Pooh is a great programme, I remember watching this as a young child) I'm now 24 years old and still watch my favourite cartoons, they are comforting for me)
Good luck and I hope that you can find a solution which helps everyone involved