90 daysNiles’ Niles opens up about the challenges of walking with autism after upsetting Matilda with some of his comments.
In PEOPLE’s exclusive sneak peek of the Nov. 10 episode 90 Day Fiancé: 90 days agoNiles is helping Matilda sell the plantations for the family business when he confronts her about a negative comment about her family’s home in Ghana, which he compared to a prison.
The 27-year-old quickly apologizes after the girlfriend explains how hurtful the comment would have been to her mother if she had actually heard it.
Matilda then asks if Niles’ response is due to his autism, which sparks a conversation that Niles admittedly “dreads”.
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“I think Matilda is starting to understand that autism affects me a lot, and not least that I’m honest with the truth,” Niles explains in the confessional. “Even when I know what I’m supposed to do, it’s actually hard to follow through.”
He adds: “This is an example of how dating and relationships are not easy for me. It just isn’t.”
Niles talks to Matilda about how the disguise affects his actions.
TLC
Niles takes the opportunity to talk more with Matilda about “masking,” a coping mechanism in which people with autism behave in specific ways to appear neurotypical.
He tells Matilda that he often disguises himself to avoid offending people, but will often criticize him for “lying” while doing so. “When do I tell the truth and when do I disguise myself?” Niles thinks.
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“If it was me, you could tell the truth,” replies Matilda. “But you know when we go to my family’s place or a public place… I don’t like that.”
Niles says the change probably won’t happen overnight, but he has vowed to “try not to put on a mask” around Matilda.
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Matilda asks Niles more about his autism after calling him out on a negative comment about her family’s home in Ghana.
TLC
Matilda worries that Niles might leave her because she has expressed concern about his autism and its effect on their relationship.
But Niles is simply glad that Matilda talks to him about her wants and needs. “I’m glad you’re talking to me,” Niles explains. “Telling me what you want is actually a big relief.”
In the confessional, Niles reveals that people have “given up” on him in the past when things got tough.
Rather than expecting to improve on his own like others, Niles says, “Matilda is teaching me how I should treat her, and I’m overjoyed that she’s willing to do that for me.”
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90 Day Fiancé: 90 days ago airs Sundays at 8:00 PM ET on TLC.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education