In the first term of uni, I told my flat mates in my halls of residence that I am autistic because I wanted them to know that I didn’t want to go clubbing with them due to sensory reasons, not because I didn’t want to spend time getting to know them. Before I told them this, they were perfectly fine, inviting me to go out clubbing, having discussions in the communal kitchen, talking whenever we met on campus etc. However, ever since telling them I am diagnosed as autistic, they haven’t spoken to me as much or invited me to any social events, even though they have mentioned going out in the group chat and have sent pictures to the chat of them going out as a group into town, getting coffee, meeting up after lectures etc. After I told them, the most they usually said was “hi”, but recently a few of them have started small talk in the communal kitchen, e.g., “how was your day?” but only if I’m the only other person in the kitchen. It feels very awkward and I’m regretting ever telling them I have autism. Has anyone else ever had this issue and how do you cope?
