Recognizing Relationship Abuse

Recognizing an abusive relationship is a step toward help and healing.

By Jeremy and Ilana Hamburgh

We help autistic and neurodivergent adults build the kinds of friendships and romantic relationships that feel safe, respectful, and deeply fulfilling. Yet, for too many people in the autism community, their reality is just the opposite.

Recognizing and navigating relationship abuse is difficult for anyone. For autistic individuals, it can be even more complicated because the social world often operates on unspoken rules.

Some autistic adults who are thoughtful, loyal, and emotionally generous have found themselves stuck in friendships and relationships where they feel ignored, dismissed, or manipulated. For many, they often don’t realize they’re experiencing abuse.

Or in some cases, they do, but the idea of calling it out feels too painful or too risky.

Understanding relationship abuse through a neurodivergent lens