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Making friends as an autistic adult

Becky

Hi,

I've always struggled to make friends, but I've recently been diagnosed as autistic. I'm 29, I'm female, I live alone and I have very few friends or social interactions. I keep reading about how the autistic community has really helped other people after diagnosis, but I don't know how to meet people who are part of the autistic community (or not). I'm a special educational needs teacher, I love reading, cooking, travel and being creative. There must be other people out there like me?

  • I'm very new to the Forum and I've found people to be supportive, helpful and kind. Like others commented, I hope you can be active, as much as you can, by writing and interacting here.

    I made nice friends from all over the world on Instagram (my cat had an account!). I've stayed in contact with 5 people for around 5 years, I interact with one person throughout each day.

    They stayed supportive through my cancer treatment, while my 7 non-online friends/in-laws who I knew for 10-40 years didn't give a **** about me (for months, they stopped contacting me to see how I was doing). I ended all these "friendships" because these people clearly showed that they only cared about themselves.

    Sorry for the rant, but my point is that people we meet online can be very supportive. Not everyone, of course, but there are some good people out there.

  • Hi Becky, nice to have you with us. I have found this place has helped me make more friends and it is a nice place to just talk to other people like us. I work with SEN too, what age group do you teach? I used to teach children but ive just starting a new job with post 16s in a college.  

  • Hello Becky and welcome to the forum!

    I was diagnosed when I was 24, I am now 27 (Nearly 28).

    I too have very few friends, however I am in contact with them.

    I love travel. I have been all around Europe and on a river cruise on the Rhine and a cruise to Norway. I have been to both coasts of the USA and Eastern Canada. Later this year I will be going to Western Canada and Alaska on a cruise.

    I have written scripts for TV, but have been unsuccessful. I am also trying to write a book that could potentially be adapted.

  • Hi Becky,

    I also struggle making friends and have also been wondering how I can make autistic friends. 
    I’m 31 and also like reading.

  • Hi Becky, nice to have you with us

    Interacting on here has really helped me since December. 

    There are lots of supportive and understanding people here

    Hope you find it beneficial too 

  • Hi. I’m similar, was diagnosis two years ago and am trying to make some autistic friends, but it can be very hard to find people particular other autistic people (particularly though who share interests). I have found this community online very welcoming and friendly though.

  • I also struggle to make friends. If you specifically want to make autistic friends, I would look for autism support groups or social groups online, whether through charities like Mencap or on sites like Meetup. If you would like more friends in general, you could try to find something connected with your hobbies e.g. a book club, cookery class or art class. You could also try volunteering for a cause you support, which I've found good as a way of meeting people in an environment where I'm not under pressure to make small talk (which I struggle with) because we're focused on the task in hand.

  • i couldnt make friends and am alone too... but i got a job and i consider my colleagues to be friends, although not sure if the feeling is mutual or not but i guess in my mind it doesnt matter, i still like them, and see them at work every day.

  • Welcome to the online community Becky. I hope you find your time here useful. The people here are very welcoming and are all at different stages of their own journeys. I’m roughly 2 years into my diagnosis currently.