Alone Together: Making an Asperger Marriage Work

by Katrin Bentley, Dr Anthony Attwood (Foreword by)

Overview

Communication is one of the biggest challenges faced by people with Asperger's Syndrome (AS), yet an Asperger marriage requires communication more than any other relationship. Thousands of people live in Asperger marriages without knowing the answers to important questions such as ‘What behaviours indicate that my spouse has AS?' ‘Is it worthwhile to get a diagnosis?' ‘Is there hope for improvement?'

Katrin Bentley has been married for 18 years. Since receiving her husband's diagnosis of AS, their marriage has improved substantially. They learnt to accept each other's different approaches to life and found ways to overcome problems and misunderstandings. Today they are happily married and able to communicate effectively.

Alone Together shares the struggle of one couple to rescue their marriage. It is uplifting and humorous, and includes plenty of tips to making an Asperger marriage succeed. This book offers couples hope, encouragement and strategies for their own marriages.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781843105374
Publisher:	Kingsley, Jessica Publishers
Publication date:	04/15/2007
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	211,347
Product dimensions:	5.91(w) x 8.98(h) x 0.39(d)

About the Author

Katrin Bentley was born in Switzerland but now lives in Queensland, Australia, with her husband, Gavin, who has Asperger's Syndrome. Katrin volunteers at Asperger Services Australia. She is also a qualified primary school teacher and fitness instructor.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Tony Attwood. Preface. Acknowledgements. The Cactus and the Rose (poem).1. Becoming Aware of Asperger's Syndrome. 2. Meeting the Handsome Stranger. 3. The Wedding. 4. The First Real Argument: I Married you for Fun, Not for Problems. 5. Travelling to Australia: The White Board. 6. The Honeymoon: Rigid Thinking! 7. Sexuality, Intimacy and Love. 8. Making Friends. 9. Starting a Family: Empathy and Theory of Mind. 10. Babies and New Mothers are Unpredictable: Coping with Change. 11. Arguments Need to be Resolved: Being Married to a Non-Communicator. 12. A Family Requires Teamwork. 13. The ‘Girlfriend'. 14. Dealing with Sickness: Associative Thinking Causes Stress. 15. The Car Accident: Dizzy Spells can be Fatal! 16. Being There in Body but Not in Soul: Alone Together.17. The Energy Theory: My Way of Dealing with Tantrums. 18. Bringing Up Champions: How to Handle Criticism. 19. A Good Day Turns Bad in a Matter of Seconds: How We Fix Arguments. 20. How a Diagnosis Helps: Resources and Opportunities for Improving the Relationship. 21. The Stress Factor: Understanding Each Other. 22. Our Life Today. Epilogue by Gavin Bentley. Useful contacts and Further Reading.

Editorial Reviews

This book could change your relationship and your life.

Tony Attwood

Bentley is lively and informative regarding life in an AS (Asperger Syndrome) household and practitioners would gain insight into the realities by reading this book.

Therapy Today

Katrin Bentley has been married for 18 years. Communication is one of the biggest challenges faced by people with Asperger's Syndrome yet Asperger marriages require communication more than any other relationship.

Alone Together shares the struggle of one couple to rescue their marriage. Since receiving her husband's diagnosis of AS, their marriage has improved substantially. They learnt to accept each other's different approaches to life, and found ways to overcome problems and misunderstandings. The book includes tips on making an Asperger marriage succeed.

Autism Us

A really honest and accurate account of what it is like living in a relationship with a man who is affected by Asperger syndrome. There will be something in this book for any one living in such a relationship and it will provide an invaluable guide to professionals who wish to develop their understanding of Asperger relationships. Katrin describes very honestly both the ups and downs of living with her husband Gavin and shows the difference that awareness, understanding and commitment can make towards the success of living with this complex syndrome.

Maxine Aston