Published on 12, July, 2020
My therapist asked me whether I know any other autistic people today and I realised that I don't. Admittedly I've been somewhat isolated due to my mental health, but, I'm working on that and I'm working on getting back out there.
My fear is that I'm too autistic for neurotypical people yet too normal for autistic people due to my high masking skills.
Are there any pros to trying to socialise and get to know more autistic people? Any cons?
You make some really good points!
Thank you so much!
OMG no don't leave. This community is normally a really safe and happy environment don't let one bad experience ruin it for you.
Your a valued member here and I and a lot of others would miss you if you left ^^
All my socialising is done with autistic people on this community ^^
I think one of the biggest pros is that we all understand each other and can support one another during difficult times which a lot of NT's can't really understand.
There is a chance that you may well actually know other autistic people, just that they may be unaware that they are autistic. It's taken me a good many years to realise that quite a few people I know (past and present) are possibly undiagnosed autists that have slipped under the radar.
If you try to socialise more with other autists, I feel it's fair to say that you'll experience both pros and cons. I can only speak for myself, but there are autists I can get on with brilliantly, with little effort required because they are on a similar wavelength to me. However, there are others that I can find extremely hard work and just cannot seem to connect with on any level.
I appreciate the reminder, it can be difficult to remember things like that when you're in the grips of it all.
I have emailed the community and I've been candid with how all of this has impacted me. It's been a few hours now and I have calmed down a lot.
Former Member,
Whilst I feel sad that you didn't feel safe earlier, I think it's important to remember that there is a screen and possibly a good many miles (perhaps hundreds of miles) between yourself and the member who caused you to feel unsafe.
Last year, there was a former member whom I had sometimes felt rather intimidated by, to the extent that I had considered leaving. I'm glad I didn't because I had just as much right to be here as the former member did, and I actually enjoyed being here.
My advice is that if you feel someone is being intentionally unkind to you, or goading you and deliberately trying to provoke an argument, just ignore them and/or contact the Community Manager.
I love this response Debbie and totally agree.
I personally am disgusted by the comments that are made continuously by this person and I do not understand how it is allowed. This is a community where people are trying to support each other, often people who are really struggling and he continually gets away with spreading hatred about ASD and generalising things in the most awful way, never with any information to back anything up. Dredd is a good name as I dread seeing the name coming up on any post as I know it will be just a spew of horrible insults.
Like others have said it puts me off coming on here.
Sloan said:the friendship is a nightmare as they both have very different levels of sensory overload, tolerance, interaction, communication and both have very specific needs and desires which seem to be opposite to each other, which makes it such a complicated friendship. I wonder if this is the case for two autistic adults? Whether it’s more complicated or easier to be both autistic?
I was in a relationship with a chap who was undiagnosed autistic, as was I.
We lived together twice and had a wedding arranged twice.
The description you give is spot on for the problems we encountered.
how do I contact the community manager?
communitymanager@nas.org.uk
I appreciate that, thank you
Thank you, how do I contact the community manager?
I hope you stay as well. There's more good than bad here, it would be a shame to lose you because of one person. Hugs.
I would also suggest contacting the Community Manager.
I've tried to block this user however it appears this forum doesn't allow you to do that?
No, sadly, there isn't that option.
So now I'm in a position where I don't feel safe here.
I would contact the Community Manager about this if I were you (but I'm not, so it's just a suggestion).
I hope you stay.
Leave me alone!