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London Comic Con in November

Strummer Girl

Hello,

I am a 48 year old autistic woman who was diagnosed only 3 years ago.  I tend to commit to things spontaneously and then try to get out of them.

I recently bought myself a ticket to the Comic Con in London I will be going alone) and now I am trying to come up with excuses not to go.

I have bought a ticket to have my photo taken with someone from a TV show I love.

It is so overwhelming.  It is next Friday and the website says turn up early (circa 07:00), but what time do the celebrities start signing autographs/photoshoots?  I am currently in counselling and she is telling me it may actually be a great experience, but my brain says that I have to get the train into London, get on the Underground (with people who won't wear masks even though it is mandatory on the Underground), queue up for things, get barged into (I seem to be invisible), and then have to do the train journey all over again.  This will most likely render me unable to function the following day.

I appreciate, in the grand scheme of things this isn't as important as some of the threads that I have read on this website, I am just wondering if someone has been before and can shed some light on what to expect because at the moment I feel it will just be too chaotic for me.

Thank you for any insight you are able to share Slight smile

  • If I went, I would go Cosplay with a helmet or something to cover my face... I get some kind of protected feeling if people can't see my face. It would also function as conversation starter if desired, and a role-play excuse to leave a conversation if you get uncomfortable.

  • Strummer Girl said:
    get barged into (I seem to be invisible)

    I really don't undertand why people walk at me in the street. Do they expect me to spontaneously vapourise before the reach me? I tend to stop, brace myself and put my shoulder down, so they either walk round me or they will bounce off. I'm much less likely to topple than the majority of people.

  • in reply to ☕Tassimo ☕

    Thank you for your response.  It is good to know that I am not alone Relaxed

  • Hi Strummer Girl.

    In the grand scheme of things, this is of equal importance to all other posts on this forum.

    Autistic adults endure social isolation throughout their lives and this is a clear instance of how autism impacts your ability to live an independent and fulfilled life. I, too, have had exactly the same experience—and still do.  I would have loved to go to Comic Con, but I know I would not have been able to do so alone for all the reasons you give. 

    I went to an event in Earl's Court a few years ago, but by the time I arrived in London, found my accommodation and checked in, navigated my way to the Conference Centre (horrendous experience), went through security and queued up with the hundreds of other ticket holders (utterly exhausting), I was completely overwhelmed and just wanted to curl up in a ball in a corner.

    I found myself wandering aimlessly around the exposition centre, alone, demoralised, unable to make sense of the event itinerary, missing out on the photograph signing opportunities, and missing all the Q&A's.

    I was devastated.