Dating : Would you date someone with a disability/ mental condition?
Hey, I asked something like this referring to asexual people and I feel I learned a lot and engaged in very interesting conversations. Now I’m here with a similar question because this one also has affected my dating life.
I’m fine with staying single since I know finding someone that accepts that I’m asexual and I have a condition (and that I also I’m attracted to) is very difficult but I’d like to read your answers and your perspective. Maybe it would change mine a bit
Depends what it was and if it affected our compatibility.
My ex-husband had **mental illnesses** – depression and general anxiety disorder (they were not directly related to the cause of divorce). So I have some experience with that.
Regarding a **cognitive or intellectual disability**, as I work in the special education field with adults with moderate intellectual disabilities, I have to say I am sometimes a bit wary of people who *don’t* have an intellectual disability who date people who do, just because it *may* create a very imbalanced dynamic where the person without the disability may be excessively influencing, exploiting or manipulating the person with the disability.
This is particularly the case when the person with the disability has a limited capacity to earn money or make independent financial decisions. However this is purely from one situation I’ve dealt with where a young woman with an intellectual disability was in a very controlling and borderline abusive relationship with a young man without such a disability.
Btw, by intellectual disability I am using the definition in my country which is defined by low IQ and low decision making skills. I’m not talking about neurological conditions such as people who have autism but their IQ is not in the low range.
Regarding **physical disability** – it would depend on shared activities. I enjoy physical activities such as running, hiking and dancing. So I’d like someone who could share those activities with me. So if it was a relatively minor physical disability that didn’t affect those activities it would be fine.
I would say yes, as long as you can support two people on one income. You just never know how supportive family and their income will be over time.