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Question:
As an autistic person how do you learn emotional intimacy, can you sugest somebody to help

Answer:
by Melissa BEE:
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Hi, Thank you for your question. If you are a person who gets sensory overload, one thought is gradual desensitisation. This can be a big ask for an adult, it is best taught in infancy. You have already built up a lot of defences, so becoming intimate is not something that can happen quickly. Intimacy is essentially about trust, so when you know someone well enough and care for them to be able to trust them, proceed slowly, one step at a time. As far as being taught these skills, you may have to enquire with whatever Autistic Association you have handy to you in suggesting someone who can help you firstly improving your social skills, and secondly with inter-personal relationship skills - a psychologist or a sex therapist would be the best person to see for those issues.

Good Luck.

Melissa BEE

Reviewed by: Scott Gross M. Ed.

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