Will things ever change?

Hi 

I am new to this forum. So not sure how to start but anyway, I am a mother of an autistic daughter who is an adult, well 20 years old.
At the moment we’re finding the mood swings quite testing and the feeling that she doesn’t want to grow up. She has in the past expressed that she would like some friends. This breaks my heart. I am her surrogate friend, go everywhere with her, do whatever she wants but making friendships at this age is definitely not the same as when you’re are kid. I have encouraged her to look at the forums online to chat to people that understand where she comes from. But has a dislike for online chatting, even though she often chats on YouTube and makes comments. 
Just started a course in comic drawing online which is great, but she is so scared of the real world and is constantly worried that she has said or done something wrong. There’s some anxiety there too.

I feel that she’s isolating herself quite purposely and we’re stuck in a rut. She’s in college last year and weighing up whether university is the next step. 
Will she realise that she can do anything? 
Can she view people and the world differently?
Endless chats around these subjects, constant reassurance and guidance. 
Where do we go with this?
I want her to even join this forum to talk and air anything that would help.

Parents
  • The transition to adult life is difficult for any young person but add in autism and the difficulties can seem insurmountable. Life changes are extremely anxiety inducing and it is understandable that it seems as if she doesn't want to grow up.

    There was a recent post on here about the NAS Transition Support Helpline. There may be some advice and support available there, to help your daughter work out if university is the right next step.

    https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/help-and-support/transition-support-service

    Autistic people are often motivated by and drawn towards their interests. I suspect that is why your daughter prefers commenting on YouTube to general online chatting.

    This a great friendly community, which includes people around the same age as your daughter facing similar issues in life. Perhaps you could give her the website address for this forum and encourage her to just read for a while. She doesn't have to post anything if she does not feel comfortable doing so. 

Reply
  • The transition to adult life is difficult for any young person but add in autism and the difficulties can seem insurmountable. Life changes are extremely anxiety inducing and it is understandable that it seems as if she doesn't want to grow up.

    There was a recent post on here about the NAS Transition Support Helpline. There may be some advice and support available there, to help your daughter work out if university is the right next step.

    https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/help-and-support/transition-support-service

    Autistic people are often motivated by and drawn towards their interests. I suspect that is why your daughter prefers commenting on YouTube to general online chatting.

    This a great friendly community, which includes people around the same age as your daughter facing similar issues in life. Perhaps you could give her the website address for this forum and encourage her to just read for a while. She doesn't have to post anything if she does not feel comfortable doing so. 

Children
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