This article was co-authored by Denise Brady and by wikiHow staff writer, Ali Garbacz, B.A.. Denise Brady is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in Long Beach, CA. With 15 years of experience, she specializes in helping people through generational trauma and uses Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy to assist clients in reprocessing traumatic experiences and memories. Denise is the owner of 'In the Meantime Breathe Family Counseling Services' and offers services in both California and Texas, including virtual and in-person therapy sessions. She also offers workshops, including ‘Embracing Empathy and Validation’ and ‘Preventing Parent Burnout’. Denise has previous experience working with the Department of Children Family Services (DCFS) and her practice is trusted and verified by Therapy for Black Girls and Psychology Today. She received her Masters in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University in Los Angeles.
There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Curious about what kinds of identities exist along the aromantic spectrum and how they differ from one another? We're here to break it all down for you with explanations, definitions, and examples to help you understand each one. Think you might be aromantic? We'll list the signs and answer all your questions! Need tips to support a friend or relative who's aromantic? We've got you covered, too. Let's dive in.
Things You Should Know
- You may be aromantic if you feel little to no romantic attraction for others, don’t desire a romantic relationship, or don’t get crushes often or ever.
- One sub-identity that exists on the aromantic spectrum is demiromantic, which is someone who often only feels romantic attraction once they’ve formed a close bond with someone.
- Another sub-identity is grayromantic, which describes someone who might feel romantic attraction rarely or under very specific circumstances, such as only with friends.
Steps
Expert Q&A
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QuestionCan I sustain a long-term relationship while being asexual?Denise BradyDenise Brady is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in Long Beach, CA. With 15 years of experience, she specializes in helping people through generational trauma and uses Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy to assist clients in reprocessing traumatic experiences and memories. Denise is the owner of 'In the Meantime Breathe Family Counseling Services' and offers services in both California and Texas, including virtual and in-person therapy sessions. She also offers workshops, including ‘Embracing Empathy and Validation’ and ‘Preventing Parent Burnout’. Denise has previous experience working with the Department of Children Family Services (DCFS) and her practice is trusted and verified by Therapy for Black Girls and Psychology Today. She received her Masters in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University in Los Angeles.
Licensed Marriage and Family TherapistYes, you can! Asexuality doesn’t really mean that you are incapable of love, connection, or romance—it just means that sexual attraction isn’t a driving force for you. While society tends to place a lot of emphasis on physical intimacy in relationships, many people value emotional closeness, shared goals, and companionship just as much, if not more. A healthy relationship is built on communication, trust, and mutual respect. As long as you and your partner are open about your needs and expectations, there’s no reason your relationship can’t thrive. Some asexual people enjoy romantic relationships without sexual pressure, and others may have partners who are comfortable with different ways of expressing intimacy. It’s all about finding what works for both of you. If you encounter misunderstandings or stigma, try not to let it define your sense of self or what you deserve. Everyone’s relationship dynamic is unique, and being asexual is just one part of who you are. The right partner will value you for all that you bring to the relationship, and together, you can create a meaningful connection that aligns with both of your needs. -
QuestionHow many labels can I have at once, could I be Bisexual, Asexual and Bellusromantic at the same time? What if one label kind of contradicts another?CharaTheArchivistCommunity AnswerIf you want to get real specific, you can have 3 "attraction" labels. The bi and ace labels contradict each other, but being biromantic asexual would be alright.
Tips
References
- ↑ https://www.glaad.org/reference/terms
- ↑ https://wp.wwu.edu/westernaces/terminology/
- ↑ https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/Ace%20Info%20Brochure_0.pdf
- ↑ https://www.aromanticism.org/en/identity-terms
- ↑ https://depts.washington.edu/qcenter/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Aromanticism101_PrintableVersion-1.pdf
- ↑ https://taaap.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Safe-Spaces-for-Aros-and-Aces-YALSA-2021-Speaker-Notes.pdf
- ↑ https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/Ace%20Info%20Brochure_0.pdf
- ↑ https://www.aromanticism.org/en/identity-terms
- ↑ https://lgbt.appstate.edu/lgbt-identities-and-sexualities
- ↑ https://pflag.org/glossary/
- ↑ https://taaap.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Safe-Spaces-for-Aros-and-Aces-YALSA-2021-Speaker-Notes.pdf
- ↑ https://www.aromanticism.org/en/identity-terms
- ↑ https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/Ace%20Info%20Brochure_0.pdf
- ↑ https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5cb6e4d565019f0c5aa6cf20/t/611fb039b3c1784eaa531996/1629466681836/Common%2BAromantic%2BIdentities%2B%28A4%29.pdf
- ↑ https://www.aromanticism.org/en/identity-terms
- ↑ https://lgbtq.unc.edu/resources/exploring-identities/asexuality-attraction-and-romantic-orientation/
- ↑ https://depts.washington.edu/qcenter/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Aromanticism101_PrintableVersion-1.pdf
- ↑ https://aromanticguide.com/am-i-aro/
- ↑ https://aromanticguide.com/am-i-aro/
- ↑ https://aromanticguide.com/am-i-aro/
- ↑ https://www.aromanticism.org/en/faq
- ↑ https://www.aromanticism.org/en/faq
- ↑ https://taaap.org/learn/attitudes-toward-romance-or-sex/
- ↑ https://www.aromanticism.org/en/faq
- ↑ https://depts.washington.edu/qcenter/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Aromanticism101_PrintableVersion-1.pdf
- ↑ https://taaap.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Safe-Spaces-for-Aros-and-Aces-YALSA-2021-Speaker-Notes.pdf
- ↑ https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5cb6e4d565019f0c5aa6cf20/t/611faffa02adbe45f9e3dd77/1629466618804/A%2BBeginners%2BGuide%2Bto%2BBeing%2Ban%2BAromantic%2BAlly%2B%28U.S_%2BCAN%29.pdf
- ↑ https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5cb6e4d565019f0c5aa6cf20/t/611faffa02adbe45f9e3dd77/1629466618804/A%2BBeginners%2BGuide%2Bto%2BBeing%2Ban%2BAromantic%2BAlly%2B%28U.S_%2BCAN%29.pdf
- ↑ https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5cb6e4d565019f0c5aa6cf20/t/611faffa02adbe45f9e3dd77/1629466618804/A%2BBeginners%2BGuide%2Bto%2BBeing%2Ban%2BAromantic%2BAlly%2B%28U.S_%2BCAN%29.pdf
- ↑ https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5cb6e4d565019f0c5aa6cf20/t/611faffa02adbe45f9e3dd77/1629466618804/A%2BBeginners%2BGuide%2Bto%2BBeing%2Ban%2BAromantic%2BAlly%2B%28U.S_%2BCAN%29.pdf