Autistic Man Gets Treatment That Allows Him To Pick Up On Emotional Cues- It Ruined His Marriage

20 Mar, 2016 by Frank Lea

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Jon Elder Robison is 58 and has autism. He was unable to pick up on people’s emotional cues. He underwent transcranial magnetic stimulation to give him more ability to see those cues. It worked, but he ended up leaving his marriage because of it.

In a post written by Robison for the New York Times, he explains his life before and after the treatment.

He wrote: ‘Because I’m autistic, I have always been oblivious to unspoken cues from other people. My wife, my son and my friends liked my unflappable demeanor and my predictable behavior.’

While he once served as a rock for his wife who suffered from chronic depression, Robison was suddenly incapable of maintaining his detached and steadfast support.

He wrote: ‘After the TMS, I felt the full force of her sadness, and the weight of it dragged me under. Normally people change in a marriage, over time. What happens when one person changes overnight?’

He was divorced within a year, but Robison eventually remarried, rekindled his relationship with his son, and saw marked improvements in his ability to engage with strangers and new friends.

You can read more about John’s story in his book, “Switched On.” His wife is probably more depressed than ever after this.