@whywewant: If you're autistic or neurodivergent, the University of Edinburgh just confirmed something you've probably always felt. The line between your best friend and a romantic partner is often just one conversation. The Edinburgh study found that for autistic adults the boundary between deep friendship and romantic love is genuinely fluid. For many people in the study the only real differentiator was physical intimacy. The label wasn't a felt shift in the relationship. It was a conversation about which defaults to update. Autistic adults are significantly more likely to reject the conventional relationship escalator. Dating, moving in, engagement, marriage. The escalator that keeps going regardless of whether the relationship is actually good, where getting off feels like failure rather than just a different direction. The autistic brain asks different questions. Not where is this going, but what is this actually right now and is it good. And it turns out that's not avoidance of commitment. It's just a more honest way of being in a relationship. Have you had a relationship that didn't fit any of the standard boxes? let me know in the comments #Autism #ADHD #Neurodivergent #AutisticRelationships #AuDHD

Mike Baggs
Mike Baggs
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Monday 25 May 2026 14:27:44 GMT
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wath_the_heck
Wathgwen 🍉 :
It's especially confusing for me as an autistic demisexual.
2026-05-26 02:00:15
1140
girlsloveguts
Jesus Christ :
This is why it seems like I value friendships too much and relationships not enough
2026-05-26 11:48:56
5592
p3gg1ng_m0thm4n
p3gg1ng_m0thm4n :
maybe Im doing it wrong bc im basically my bestfriends dad like wth is this on about
2026-07-05 19:22:11
0
beedaydreamzzz
Bee | AuDHD :
as an asexual aromantic autistic, I don't even know what I'm supposed to feel for anyone ever. 😅
2026-05-25 17:53:52
4846
crillyyyyyy
Crillyyy :
Yes, this is me. Had a conversation with my best friend asking what the difference is between a deep friendship and a romantic partner, other than sex. I still don't understand it. I would do everything for my friends that I would do for a partner, and I feel a very deep love for my friends!
2026-05-25 21:05:28
2278
lou__v3
Lou :
fyp getting a bit too local
2026-05-25 20:38:32
855
flyingananas91
Lizi Johnston :
This does explain why I’m so sad my best friend is so involved in their romantic relationship to have time for me, even though I’m really happy for them (I had no romantic interest in them) I’m also really sad and mourning the loss of the closeness we had. Now I feel almost awkward having conversations with them.
2026-05-26 12:33:57
423
rosyface_
R 🏳️‍🌈🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 :
I found all my more significant and successful relationships via friendship first. When I’ve ignored that process, it’s gone horribly wrong.
2026-05-25 19:41:30
586
eternalthunderbolt
Kyran 🏳️‍⚧️ :
i genuinely cannot comprehend a difference between romantic and platonic love because my friends fill that space in my life entirely!! I always struggle when friends get into relationships and i feel like they dont care for me as much as I do for them
2026-05-25 22:59:28
672
commit_gay_lobotomy
👁️👄👁️ :
yea i have 0 idea on what the difference between platonic or romantic love is... for me it's more less or more intense and for me love is more one very fluent feeling
2026-05-25 19:40:16
905
wherikfr
wherikfr :
I keep having visions of ramen.
2026-05-25 23:44:01
113
wordwitch_72
wordwitch_72 :
I’ve gotten old/wise enough to recognize these are my best relationships- and do consider myself a “relationship anarchist” for that reason— the people I love I love and we don’t have to have a label!
2026-05-25 15:26:33
195
matty_vdef3
Matty :
Tbh a partner SHOULD be your bestfriend
2026-05-26 10:06:03
148
phrankeii
P :
I'd marry my friends in a heartbeat. I'm not romantically inclined but I love them and want to spend my life with them.
2026-05-27 03:29:49
49
newtingale
NewtMaz🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🇬🇧 :
I identified as aromantic for a long time, although I had multiple long relationships, because I never felt anything that seemed like romantic love. now at 42, I'm experiencing what feels like a distinct kind of love for the first time and I'm acknowledging that I'm greyromantic rather than fully aro. but it's definitely a very blurred, fuzzy line. especially as I'm queer. i have so many close, loved, wonderful friends who I am also sometimes intimate with, but not romantic with. but what makes the difference feels very vague.
2026-05-25 17:25:34
60
rynnroo96
Lavender 🪻 :
Wait... no stop this is actually so comforting to me?? thank you this genuinely made me feel so seen 😭😭
2026-05-26 10:52:12
37
storyfabric
Christine Dunn :
I think this is a big part of why “found family” is so important in neurodivergent circles. I don’t have a romantic partner, but I have friends that I would drop everything for and who I know would drop everything for me.
2026-05-27 03:03:52
27
fangsy_
kitty cat sonders :
im aromantic and polyamorous, i have multiple partners where its just. that. theyre my people
2026-05-27 07:37:58
12
jemstoned99
JemStoned99 :
Before I was diagnosed, something I always said was that I'm "usually a little in love with my friends." I've only had a few close friendships that didn't match that pattern.
2026-05-26 16:02:27
32
urlaurd
urlaurd :
I genuinely cannot understand relationships that are defined. Every relationship I have with everyone is unique and different. None of them could be categorized to me. The only thing I can categorize is the level of closeness, that’s all.
2026-05-27 00:17:23
21
nixon.vanjustice
Nixon VanJustice :
my best friend and I openly consider each other platonic life partners. our husbands are completely understanding.
2026-05-26 02:50:31
57
mo.maylyn
Morgan :
I've been told repeatedly I put TOO MUCH into my friendships..... not by the friend in question ever btw
2026-05-27 00:53:50
9
jacob9875
Jacob :
I also find I get very attached to friends very quickly. That if I’m hanging out with someone for like even a month regularly they’re just as important to me as any other friend.
2026-05-26 18:43:42
44
oswyn.lynn
Oswyn_Lynn :
I called my best friend my soulmate for years
2026-05-27 20:16:11
6
bluecatprince
✦Jinx irl✦ :
being autistic and demi means I’d gladly date the majority of my friends if they asked because I love them and trust them :)
2026-05-26 19:11:14
19
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