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.
Don't think there's any where I live.
Yep, only one but wasn't a good experience because I wasn't really spoken to or acknowledged. Everyone there is that talkative autistic type.
Hi there. It's such a difficult one, isn't it. I am 51 and I don't have many friends. It has not been easy.
Many folk on here would recommend getting involved with your special interest or hobbies. My special interest is organising travel, so haven't had luck with that.
Also how would you feel about going to a local autistic groups (as I see is posted above).
Take care and hang in there,
Mrs Snooks
Have you looked for any local autistic groups which meet up at all? I know they're hard to come by, but something like that might be of use. I hope you find something soon, it's horrible feeling lonely and isolated, and excluded because of neurodivergent communication and sensory experience.
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.