VIDEO CONFERENCE: Is it really “High Functioning Autism” when I feel so bad?

An International Support Group facilitated by Dr. Marshack. This Video Conference is only for members of Meetup. Click here for membership details and to register for this call.

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Topic: VIDEO CONFERENCE: Is it really “High Functioning Autism” when I feel so bad?

When: Monday, June 20th at 4 pm Pacific Time

My NT father used to say of my NeuroDiverse mom, that she was “highly intelligent.” It always sounded strange to me when he said that. It’s like he was struggling to find a defense for the rest of her odd, rigid, unkind behavior. He offered the phrase to me, with little emotional energy behind the words, like it was the best he could do to be supportive of his spouse. I felt his ennui. I felt the same. Yes, Mom was “highly intelligent,” but that was hardly enough for Dad or me.

I feel this same way when I hear similar phrases from members of our group. “My husband is ‘high functioning Asperger’s,” they say. Or, “She is on the Spectrum, but off the chart intelligent.” Or “He’s really brilliant in his field.” When I hear these phrases from members, I hear the flat tone — the attempt to find something positive in their spouse — the sense of futility in a relationship where all they have is the “highly intelligent” part.

In this essential video conference, I want to help you better understand why intelligence is not enough for a relationship. We need more, don’t we? Let’s discuss what is really needed in a loving relationship and how to foster that with our “highly intelligent ‘Aspies.’”

You will be able to see the Zoom link for this conference on the event page after you pay the event fee. The fee is $21.95. After you register to attend, please click the Zoom link and join at the time of the video conference. The event fee is non-refundable.

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