From Typos to Triumphs: How Dyslexia Can Supercharge Your Relationships

Ever sent a message and watched it crash and burn? Me too. I’ve mixed up words, spiralled into tangents and turned a simple “good morning” into a confusing novella.

If you’re dyslexic, relationships can feel like a minefield of misreads, misfires and misunderstandings. But here’s the thing, once you learn how your brain ticks, you can turn those so-called weaknesses into relationship superpowers.

In this article I’m sharing everything I’ve learned about love, friendship and teamwork when your brain works sideways. I’ll draw on six Truth About Dyslexia episodes, share real-life stories and give you practical tricks to keep connections strong. Let’s get into it.

1. Why Relationships and Dyslexia Matter

I still remember my first crush in high school. I spent ages writing a note, folded it neatly, then realised it said “You make my heart skate” instead of “skip.” My crush laughed, handed it back and walked off. I felt like the world ended.

That typo taught me a big lesson – dyslexia isn’t just about mixing up letters. It’s about the way we connect with people. Words slip, thoughts spin off and emotions come flooding in.

In Relationships & Dyslexia I talked about how every text, every joke and every “I love you” can get tangled up in translation when your brain is always looking for patterns and connections.

This isn’t a pity party. It’s an invitation to understand yourself and your partner better. Once you know the quirks, you can set up tiny systems and signals that turn chaos into clarity. And trust me, every couple – dyslexic or not – can learn from these tricks.

2. When Talking Feels Like Running a Marathon

Have you ever tried to tell a simple story that somehow turned into a 20-minute epic? I’ll say “remember that café?” and before you know it I’m describing the barista’s playlist, every tile on the floor and why lattes taste like Sunday mornings at Grandma’s. By the end, my partner’s eyes glaze over.

In Relationships & Communication: Story Time I confessed that my brain grabs every detail it can. I’m not trying to overwhelm; I’m just wiring together memories. Then in Communication, Fights and Relationships I admitted how frustrating it is to prune my thoughts into neat sentences.

Here’s what saved me:

• Mini-timer in my head
  I imagine a two-minute timer whenever I start a story. When I hit the buzzer (in my head), I pause and sum up the point.

• TLDR keyword
  My partner and I agreed that “TLDR” means “wrap it up.” When they say it, I give the one-line version. Suddenly I can be concise without killing my vibe.

• Bullet-point texts
  If I’m telling something important over text, I use bullet lines. One point per line so it’s easy to scan and reply.

That way, my partner doesn’t feel lost in my mental maze, and I still get to share the bits I care about.

3. Feeling All the Feels at Once

Imagine emotions as a waterfall. Now imagine dyslexia turns that into a six-tier cascade, with water crashing through every thought. That’s emotional overload for me. When I’m upset it’s not just one feeling. It’s frustration, embarrassment, anxiety and the fear that I messed up again.

In Dyslexia, Relationships and Communication I called it the “brain waterfall.” My partner used to feel like they were getting pummeled by words and emotions. They didn’t know where the anger ended and the sadness began.

Here’s my simple trick:

1. Say “pause” out loud
   It gives both of us a breather. Weird? Maybe. It works.

2. Label the feeling
   I say “I’m feeling overwhelmed.” That tells them it’s not about them.

3. Breathe and explain
   Once I catch my breath, I explain what’s really going on without the emotional tidal wave.

Naming the feeling turns chaos into a conversation. It’s like putting a gate on the waterfall so the water trickles instead of flooding the room.

4. Dating with Dyslexia in the Digital Age

Swiping through Tinder felt like reading hieroglyphs. A message of “LOL” could mean they’re genuinely laughing or they’re mocking me. One match asked if I liked jazz music. I spent an hour researching jazz history because I thought they wanted a deep conversation. Turns out they meant “jazz hands.” Oops.

In Dyslexia, Relationships and Tinder I unpacked that mess. Here’s what I learned:

• Three-line rule
  If you want me to get your point, put it in the first three lines. Then I know what matters and I won’t chase random threads.

• Emoji clarity
  I pick two emojis max. One for tone (😊 or 🙃) and one for context (📚 or 🎬). Any more and my brain tries to decode a secret message.

• Ask for confirmation
  After a date or important message, I’ll say “just to check – does that mean we’re meeting at 7?” It feels awkward, but it stops ghosting confusion.

Dating with dyslexia is a crash course in clear communication. These rules save both sides the guesswork.

5. Why Delegation Feels Risky Even at Home

Delegation and dyslexia share the same fear – losing control. At work I’d rather do the report myself than risk someone misreading my notes. At home I’d rather write the grocery list, pay the bills and plan the trip than let my partner help and then spend hours fixing everything.

In The Struggle to Delegate - at Work, in Relationships and Life I introduced the 80+1 rule:

• 80 percent hand-off
  I give clear instructions and let my partner take the lead.

• +1 quality check
  I hold onto that last 20 percent so I can confirm we’re on the same page.

At home it looks like this: I share the shopping list and brands (almond milk brand, gluten-free pasta). That’s 80 percent. I ask for a quick photo of the trolley contents before checkout. That’s my 20 percent.

This split means I’m not hoarding tasks and they feel trusted – not micromanaged.

6. Core Concepts to Keep Us Connected

After years of trial and error I’ve boiled my approach down to three game-changers:

• Tree roots and branches
  Picture dyslexia, ADHD and anxiety as branches. The roots are shared needs: clarity, kindness and patience. Water the roots with open chats about how you both think and the branches will flourish.

• Short-form storytelling
  My brain loves details. My partner doesn’t. So I practise the setup, the punch and the takeaway – like a micro-podcast in real life.

• Relationship roadmap
  We check in for five minutes weekly. We use simple signals – 🛑 for pause and ✅ for all good. These tiny cues stop misfires before they blow up.

These concepts aren’t fancy. They’re everyday tools that make a massive difference.

7. Turning Dyslexia into a Relationship Superpower

Dyslexia throws curveballs, but it also gifts us creativity, empathy and the knack for seeing connections others miss. Our brains find solutions like plot twists in a novel.

Think about one moment when dyslexia tripped you up in a relationship. How did you handle it? Share it in our Facebook group or drop a comment under the Relationships & Dyslexia episode.

When we understand our sideways brains, we don’t just survive relationships, we hack them. And that is a superpower worth celebrating.

Relationships can be a minefield if you don’t know what you are doing. Misreads turn into fights, tangents become arguments and unchecked emotions feel overwhelming.

But with the right tools—tiny timers, simple signals and regular check-ins—you can navigate the twists and turns. Embrace your brain’s quirks, set up your own systems and turn that minefield into familiar ground. You’ve got this.