Dec 10 2024 47 mins 4
Dear Listener, welcome to the final episode of our Dating Skills Series! In this installment, we focus on neurodivergent dating skills, offering insights into how autistics, ADHDers, highly sensitive people, and otherwise neurodivergent people may express affection, flirt, and show romantic interest. Whether you’re neurodivergent and struggling with dating, or a neurotypical crushing on a neurodivergent cutie, this episode is packed with valuable information.
Join us as we explore key neurodivergent dating skills, including:
1. Story Swapping: Understand how neurodivergent individuals might share stories to connect and show empathy.
2. Managing Stimulation: Learn strategies for adjusting the sensory environment on dates to feel more comfortable and present.
3. Cooperative Overlap: Discover how some neurodivergent people may interrupt out of enthusiasm, showing they’re engaged in the conversation.
4. Info Dumping: Find out why delving into a favorite topic deeply can be a sign of interest and connection.
5. Focus on Verbal Communication: Explore why direct language and less emphasis on tone or nonverbal cues might be the norm in neurodivergent communication.
We also delve into how autistic people might express romantic love, the role of noncompliance as an adaptive skill, and the importance of creating authentic connections without masking. By the end of this episode, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation of neurodivergent dating skills and practical strategies for building meaningful relationships. Tune in and learn how to connect with your neurodivergent date in ways that honor their unique communication style (and fight ableism, too, yay!).
Key Takeaways
00:00 - Intro
01:33 - Understanding Neurodivergence
04:31 - Why learn neurodivergent dating skills?
13:24 - #1: Story swapping
15:58 - #2: Manage Stimulation on Dates
20:17 - #3: Cooperative Overlap
24:26 - #4: Info dumping about special interests
27:00 - #5: Focus on verbal communication
29:23 - #6: Honest and direct language
31:02 - #7: Focus on meaning of words
34:02 - #8: Skip the small talk
35:42 - #9: Ask lots of questions in pursuit of accuracy
38:08 - #10: Parallel play
40:14 - #11: Non-compliance
43:08 - Recap
Resources and links
For full show notes with links, visit relationshipcenter.com/podcast
Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity, By Devon Price, PhD
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