Published on 12, July, 2020
Please tell me other ND adults struggle with the loneliness.
I'm a lone parent and have no close friends, I've lost them all over the years. No-one at work makes an effort to talk just to me, I feel like I'm so unwanted and unvalued. I have tried joining in groups but it doesn't work out, I always feel like the odd one out. I've tried starting groups online but they don't capture attention because it's not interesting enough.
I just don't fit in *anywhere* and I honestly wonder what is the point in being here.
Yep, I feel the same, sadly.
I think it is a crisis that those in power aren't addressing.
They have a strategy, but I don't see it being implemented.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-strategy-for-autistic-children-young-people-and-adults-2021-to-2026/the-national-strategy-for-autistic-children-young-people-and-adults-2021-to-2026
If autistic individuals are lonely, isolated and have difficulties with socialising and communicating, then having feelings of depression or suicidal thoughts are going go hand in hand.
I have tried hard to talk to people, but I always feel left out.
As such, I take joy in the physical built environment as opposed to socialising.
I do not feel like I belong as well.
As neurodiverse autistic people understand each other the best, creating socialising groups of like-minded individuals should be crucial. I think more needs to be done to promote autistic understanding to those who are deemed neurotypical because it is challenging having an invisible disability. Especially when people say you are fine when you are not, just because you don't look disabled, but your mind is.
The current support mechanisms need to be increased because it's not right for autistic individuals to be left isolated and second-guessing themselves on their journey through life.