Heather Emerson-Young
My Personal Story: When Love Feels Like Loneliness
When I met my husband, I was drawn to his brilliance, his depth, and the way he saw the world differently. His neurodivergence wasn’t a flaw—it was one of the things I loved most about him.
But as our relationship deepened, I began to feel more and more emotionally isolated.
For years, I tried everything—being more patient, explaining my needs more clearly, adjusting my expectations—but nothing changed.
It wasn’t until we sought therapy that things begun to change.
This journey—from confusion and resentment to clarity and healing—is why I do this work today. I want to help others avoid years of pain and self-doubt and create a path that actually works for them.
Helping Neurotypical Partners Find Clarity & Connection
Loving someone who is autistic or has ADHD can feel like living in two different realities. What started as unique, endearing differences in your relationship may now feel like an exhausting, lonely, and confusing struggle.
Many neurotypical partners reach a point where they ask themselves:
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"Do they even care about me?"
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"Why do I feel so alone even though I’m married?"
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"Why am I carrying all the emotional weight in this relationship?"
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"Am I asking for too much?"
This deep emotional isolation and exhaustion—often called Cassandra Syndrome—is not just in your head. It is a real and painful experience that many neurotypical partners face when their emotional needs go unmet.
I work with neurotypical partners who feel unseen and unheard, helping them:Break free from the cycle of feeling like they don’t matter in their own relationship.
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Create communication strategies that actually work—instead of having the same painful conversations over and over.
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Set emotional boundaries that protect them from constant over-functioning.
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Decide what’s possible—and what’s not—so they can move forward with clarity.
Rewriting the Story of Your Relationship
Many neurotypical partners believe:
🚫 “If I just try harder, things will get better.”
🚫 “I shouldn’t be upset, they don’t mean to hurt me.”
🚫 “I’m too emotional.”
🚫 “I can’t leave because they need me.”
These beliefs keep you trapped in a cycle of self-sacrifice and burnout.
Therapy helps you rewrite your story—one where you are seen, valued, and able to make choices that honor your emotional needs.
If you are feeling lost, unheard, and emotionally drained, you don’t have to keep living this way. There is a way forward—whether that means improving communication, setting stronger boundaries, or deciding what’s best for you long-term.