Prosper Health's Autism Resource Center

According to the diagnostic criteria outlined in the DSM-V, individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit a preference for sameness and routines. Most people, both neurodiverse and neurotypical, have routines or schedules they like to stick to. The difference between neurotypical and neurodiverse routines is how someone reacts when their routine is disrupted.

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Neurotypical individuals may experience frustration if their routine is thrown off, but they can usually go with the flow and adapt without too much stress. For an autistic individual, however, a disruption to their routine is often quite distressing and may even lead to a meltdown. To outsiders, an autistic individual’s stress when facing a change of plans may seem disproportionate, but routine is essential to an autistic person’s well-being. 

When you think of autism, who do you picture? Many people may envision a young boy—maybe he’s fixated on toys like model trains or rocking back and forth to stim. But what about a little girl playing out the same scenes with her dolls on a loop or a woman constantly playing with her hair?

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There’s a reason these images don’t come to mind for many—men and boys are around 3 to 4 times more likely to be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder than women and girls. This isn’t because of sex-based neurobiological differences, or at least not fully. Most researchers and advocates recognize that autism presents differently in women and girls than in men and boys. Autistic women are underdiagnosed because traditional models don’t recognize their traits as autistic, leaving huge gaps in support for autistic adult women and in broader awareness of their experiences.

Romantic relationships are complex and deeply rewarding, offering connection, intimacy and growth. When autism is part of the dynamic, relationships bring unique opportunities to explore love through the lens of neurodiversity. ‍

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Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) influences how people process the world, communicate, and connect with others. Understanding autism is essential for a healthy relationship. Awareness of neurodivergence can help partners move beyond stereotypes and build relationships rooted in acceptance and authenticity. When partners take time to understand autism, they’re better equipped to create a supportive, inclusive space.

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Dating someone with autism means celebrating a relationship shaped by honesty, loyalty and unique ways of connecting. It also requires both partners to understand the impact of autism on their relationship and to foster mutual respect and empathy. 

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Read on to learn about challenges you may face dating an autistic partner, the perks of dating someone who’s autistic, how to make your relationship thrive and more.

The major difference between social anxiety and autism is how they are classified; autism is considered a neurodevelopmental condition, while social anxiety is a mental health condition. Despite this, the two diagnoses share a number of similarities. Autistic individuals and people with social anxiety communicate and experience social situations differently than others. While they have many overlapping traits, social anxiety and autism are ultimately very different. Individuals with either diagnosis can benefit greatly from supports like psychotherapy and, for some, medication. A mental health professional must determine whether an individual is autistic, has social anxiety or both to provide truly tailored and holistic support. 

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD) differ primarily in their classification—autism is a neurodevelopmental condition, and BPD is a personality disorder. They also diverge in several traits, though they share a number of surface similarities such as different ways of relating to other people. Both diagnoses are commonly misunderstood, making it important to distinguish between them to ensure autistic individuals and people with BPD receive meaningfully tailored support. Autism and BPD seem to co-occur at somewhat higher rates than other groups—although more research is required to determine how commonly they overlap—and individuals with either diagnosis can also benefit greatly from understanding the traits of each diagnosis.

Do you feel frozen whenever you feel like you should be doing something? Do the demands of day-to-day tasks make you feel like the walls are closing in? If demands cause you severe anxiety that gets in the way of completing daily activities, you might be experiencing demand avoidance. Pathological demand avoidance (PDA) is most commonly connected to autism, contributing to the great diversity of the autism spectrum. However, allistic (non-autistic) individuals can also align with a PDA profile. PDA can have significant impacts on a person’s life, but broader social awareness of PDA is still limited. Many support strategies, including neurodiversity-affirming therapy, can help PDA individuals manage demands and move through life with less anxiety.