Skip to content

Relationships & Autism

Guides for partners and autistic people in a relationship.

What masking means for your relationship

Your partner may have worn a 'social mask' for years — even around you. Not to deceive you, but to survive. Now that the mask can come off, you're seeing someone who's tired, gets overstimulated faster, and sometimes reacts differently than you're used to.

That can be confusing. You might wonder: who is this? But this is your partner. You're just seeing more of who they always were.

Remember: Every autistic person is different. These guides are starting points. The most important thing is the conversation with your partner — ask what they need.

Are you autistic yourself?