Lonely in Truth: Cassandra Phenomenon

The stories in this book are about women who are married to, or were once partnered with, men on the mild end of the autism spectrum, formerly known as Asperger’s syndrome. These women are not autistic, so their relationships are considered neurodiverse (meaning there’s a neurotypical person in a relationship with a neurodivergent person). The focus within the stories is Cassandra Syndrome. A very life-altering phenomenon that often occurs—and usually remains unaddressed—within these relationships.

“The Cassandra phenomenon depicts a state of confusion, self-doubt, and inner turmoil that is all too familiar among neurotypical people who, when describing their experiences with an adult on the spectrum, are doubted, discounted, ignored, even rejected by friends, family members, and sometimes professionals who disbelieve their account.” (Kenneth Roberson, PhD). Link to his website found in the resources section of this book.

It’s fortunate that we now live in a more open and aware world when it comes to mental health and neurological differences in relationships. Not long ago, we knew little about how autism affects adult relationships. However, many of the men in these stories do not fully accept their diagnosis; in some cases, it’s the partner who identifies the condition after their quest for answers. Although therapists are more aware of neurodiverse relationships than before, we still find ourselves pioneering in our relationships with these men. The stories explore the challenging side of autism, where the men resist efforts to make the relationship work, and the external world may not understand or acknowledge our struggles.