The Girl with the Curly Hair - Asperger's and Me

I learned about pathological demand avoidance, a pattern of behavior that is still up for debate in the ASD world but that for me represented a seismic OS update. It explained why I would unfailingly refuse to do something when asked, and why a demand or request would trigger an overwhelming sense of panic and certitude that I would only disappoint

... See more

I had no energy left for building meaningful relationships. I had friends and I had a girlfriend, but I was so consumed by my work anxiety that it made me selfish. I didn’t have the bandwidth to truly engage with other people and be a supportive partner.