Are you an adult with High-Functioning Autism or Asperger's? Are you in a relationship with someone on the autism spectrum? Are you struggling emotionally, socially, spiritually or otherwise? Then you've come to the right place. We are here to help you in any way we can. Kick off your shoes and stay awhile...

Search This Blog

Online Dating: Tips for Lonely Adults on the Autism Spectrum

If you find yourself constantly alone, and if you would really enjoy having a love relationship but don't know how to get one, you will want to consider starting with an “online dating” approach.

Too much anxiety and self-consciousness create a bad first impression; therefore, believe me when I tell you that online dating is infinitely better for adults with Asperger’s and High Functioning Autism compared to a first-time, face-to-face blind date. Dating sites will help you break-out into the dating scene, and help you talk to potential dates in a more relaxed manner.

Imagine walking into the local pub with 50 strangers in it. If you’re looking to start a conversation with someone, where do you start? (You’re feeling anxious already, aren’t you?!) Do you just sit there by yourself in hopes that someone will come up to you and starting talking? Do you risk being offensive by asking someone if you can buy him or her a drink?

An online dating service is like having a friend go into the pub ahead of you as a “scout,” and this scout picks 5 people who you could go out with. How cool is that?! Of course, this doesn't mean that any of those 5 people are perfect for you, just that they share important traits and interests that are the basis for a compatible relationship.



10 reasons to consider dating online:

1. Most online dating sites have a "matching algorithm," (i.e., a formula that matches people in a way that helps ensure they are compatible, thus significantly increasing the chances of romantic success).

2. Adults on the autism spectrum often tend to be better at writing out what they feel and think (e.g., in chat messages), whereas in “real life,” they might hold back feelings or thoughts, or be too afraid or embarrassed to talk about some things.

3. Dating sites allow you to place a photo along with a personal ad, and some even have audio capability so you can listen to your potential partner’s voice. While this may sound a bit superficial at first, it actually takes the whole "meat market" aspect out of the dating process because it allows you to weed out the individuals that you feel uncomfortable with from the start.

4. For the frugal minded “Aspie, online dating saves you a lot of money. When you go out on a “real life” date, you have several possible costs involved (e.g., gas to and from the date, a meal for two, movie or concert tickets for two, etc.) – and this is just for one date! When you date online, you save all of that money (and if the date does not go as you had hoped, you will not be out any money).

5. If it turns out that a particular “online person” is not for you, you can graciously back out without the awkwardness of a “real life” date.

6. One of the “hidden” benefits of online dating is that it allows you to critically examine what you want out of life (not just out of a potential relationship) in a way you haven’t done before.

7. Online dating helps you meet potential partners rapidly so that you can quickly determine whether or not there is any compatibility. Initial contacts may be through online chats and messaging exchanges, which help you get to know your potential date.

8. Online dating offers you access to potential mates that you would be unlikely to meet through other avenues.

9. When you look for that special someone online, you are able to be yourself, to relax more, and not feel so pressured to impress the other person. You can just be you.

10. With online dating, you get to know the “real” person. Once you have chatted with someone online for a while, you begin to know that person, how he or she feels and thinks, and what makes him or her happy or sad.

So if you’re tired of being single and isolated, consider joining a dating site soon (or how about now?!). But before you do, understand this:

In romantic relationships, many of us are somehow convinced that one particular individual (yet to be discovered) will make us completely happy. This is a myth! The modern idea of romance, the idea that one “special person” is out there, that there is a perfect match waiting for you, is simply bullshit. There is not one specific individual for which everything should be given up so that you can have a “happily ever after.” So, forget about it. Get online and start looking over all the available matches, pick on, then see how it goes. If it doesn’t work, simply go on to pick #2, then #3, and so on. Eventually you will find someone who will be just fine as they are (which won’t be perfect, but that’s O.K.).

==> Living With Aspergers: Help for Couples

5 comments:

  1. How about telling them to disclose their Asperger's?!?!?! Let them date each other and not ruin regular people's lives. Seriously, they either have no empathy or they hide it really well behind their own self-absorbed selves. Of course, you don't see their real selves until after they have hooked you with their "pretend to be a normal person" persona.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Just be comfortable in your own skin, crack jokes liberally, and break the touch barrier as soon as possible. If you act shy and stay in your shell, they best dating sites

    ReplyDelete
  3. One of these comments is beyond degrading and out right nasty we are not self absorbed thank you very much and we do have empathy your mistaking it for that it's a difficulty alot of us have we dont go out to be like that and do you seriously think we like that we come across like that I for one can guarantee you we dont its caused me so much heartbreak so many friends to just leave or give up on me when in my head I'm talking fine I'm explaining things fine I'm explaining emotions fine but too people without autism we come across rude nasty narcissistic etc I constantly try to fix it as I didnt want to hurt them upset them anger them annoy them nothing and for an autistic aspergers sufferer it's so hard to explain this to anyone to fully understand you'll need to speak to a professional who knows all about it and then make judgement not based on what you think you know I've managed to deal with many aspects but that aspect is bare impossible for me and with depression and anxiety it's even worse I've lost many a good friends many relationships so to say the first comment I read from unknown is beyond hurtful and disrespectful

    ReplyDelete
  4. Is there a dating app specifically for Aspies?

    ReplyDelete
  5. My 24 year old son David is an extremely high functioning person with Aspergers. He graduated from Lynn University last year, has a good job, drives, has his own apt in Davie,FL and is quite self sufficient. He is a very nice, kind person who likes to go out and have a good time. He is very motivated to find a group of friends and build a social life for himself. But as you can understand as a person with Aspergers finds making friends difficult. He has been going to Meet-Up events in Fort Lauderdale with limited success.

    As such, I was wondering if anyone would be able to provide some suggestions as to how/where there would be events or groups that would be helpful.

    Please feel free to contact me via email at amsilverm@aol.com or phone at 201-889-7058.

    Thank You in advance for your help.
    Regards,
    Art Silverman

    ReplyDelete

Popular Posts

Chat for Adults with HFA and Aspergers