I am a college student (21/M). Since freshman year, I've been friends with a guy (also 21/M) with autism, most likely Asperger's. He's never said so, but I used to be a special ed major and it's one of those things where you can just tell. It's jsut obvious.

Now this dude....he's great. A one of a kind. I consider him one of my best friends. But.....he gets VERY clingy at times, which really, really annoys me. I know that sounds terrible, but I need my own time as well.

He doesn't have many friends. A lot of people like him and talk to him when they see him around, but they never actually attempted to befriend him or hang out or get to know him better. Really, his only two friends are me and my buddy, but mostly me. We like to include him, because we like him but also because no one else does (kinda why we became friends in the first place).

Problem is, it's getting out of control. Every day he is asking to come over just to talk or distract me in the library. He's very outgoing and extroverted and just needs people around and I get that. But it can get annoying to talk about the same stuff over and over again and his constant text messages and whatnot. And then just asking about my night, how he needs to know every detail or stressing about the littlest of things. It's getting to the point where he is dependent on me and only me, because he doesn't have anyone else. And he just puts a lot of his small issues onto me. I tell him I need my time, but it's like not getting through, like there are times in which I really cannot deal with his extreme fear of elevators.

I will be graduating after this year and moving away. Without me, this guy will have no friends. I really want him to find a hobby or make a couple more friends, because his reliance on me is stressing me out.

Do I sound like a jerk? Does anyone have any tips or anything? I love this dude as a friend, he's awesome, but like the saying goes, everything in moderation. Any tips here?
user
My friend (who is autistic) is super clingy and it's
assistant
I am a college student (21/M). Since freshman year, I've been friends with a guy (also 21/M) with autism, most likely Asperger's. He's never said so, but I used to be a special ed major and it's one of those things where you can just tell. It's jsut obvious.

Now this dude....he's great. A one of a kind. I consider him one of my best friends. But.....he gets VERY clingy at times, which really, really annoys me. I know that sounds terrible, but I need my own time as well.

He doesn't have many friends. A lot of people like him and talk to him when they see him around, but they never actually attempted to befriend him or hang out or get to know him better. Really, his only two friends are me and my buddy, but mostly me. We like to include him, because we like him but also because no one else does (kinda why we became friends in the first place).

Problem is, it's getting out of control. Every day he is asking to come over just to talk or distract me in the library. He's very outgoing and extroverted and just needs people around and I get that. But it can get annoying to talk about the same stuff over and over again and his constant text messages and whatnot. And then just asking about my night, how he needs to know every detail or stressing about the littlest of things. It's getting to the point where he is dependent on me and only me, because he doesn't have anyone else. And he just puts a lot of his small issues onto me. I tell him I need my time, but it's like not getting through, like there are times in which I really cannot deal with his extreme fear of elevators.

I will be graduating after this year and moving away. Without me, this guy will have no friends. I really want him to find a hobby or make a couple more friends, because his reliance on me is stressing me out.

Do I sound like a jerk? Does anyone have any tips or anything? I love this dude as a friend, he's awesome, but like the saying goes, everything in moderation. Any tips here?
user
Friend is a one of a kind with Asperger's and
assistant