Published on 12, July, 2020
I want to meet people as I'm minimally speaking and actually have little to no real life friends. The place I'm in gives opportunities which I do take, but I'm often ignored because I can't speak that well. I'm not sure how to go about meeting people in that case. I do have moderate to severe sensory issues, I can handle a busy restaurant on a good day, but on a bad day I'd rather die than be there.
And I need something to distract me from various thoughts. I'm in my mid 20s if that's any help.
One thing I did five years ago was to look for social anxiety support groups in my area (at the time I didn't know, despite suspicions, that I was autistic) and there was one. Sadly it seemed to scatter to the winds during Covid and everyone lost touch, but maybe there'll be one near you? If so, what better way to manageably encounter people and tentativley socially interact than with a group of people who can strongly relate and themselves will be taking gentle steps towards potential friendship with kindred spirits.
Hope there's something like that nearby. It would let you be an open book about your challenges, as everyone else will have theirs too.
Don't think there's any where I live.