I am finding it increasingly difficult to form friendships

I like word searches, easy crosswords and easy sudoku. Maybe there's something similar in your town?

Based on my own experiences, I think the older we get, the harder it can be to form friendships.

Before I hit my forties, I had local friends that I had known for years, who I would see fairly frequently. When those friendships drifted apart, I found that my circle of close friends consisted solely of long-standing friends that I hardly ever got to see because they live too far away. Whilst I cherish those friendships, I do miss having friends that I can visit and spend a few hours with.

Although there are neighbours that I am friendly with, I don't feel the same sense of connection that I experience with close friends. I have always found with the friendships I have developed that it's as though something just clicks into place, and the friendships feel natural and not forced. 

Always nice to hear that I'm not alone.

Thank you for the recommendations. I will check them out.

Sounds like something I'd be interested in, but too far away from me unfortunately.

I enjoy photography, mainly nature related. I also enjoy doing word puzzles particularly crosswords. Sudoku is great fun as well.

I can certainly relate to that. I once knew someone who would never reach out to me. I was always the one making the first move. Though looking back on it, they likely had a busy schedule and was also quite forgetful.

Sorry to hear about your allergy. 

I'm sorry to hear that you're feeling this way. This is something many of us can understand and relate to. Many people struggle with ASD have similar feelings of loneliness and difficulty forming friendships, especially as we grow older and our lives become busier with work and other responsibilities. I'm glad of the internet and the online world where we can connect in a more autism friendly way. 

CrazyCatLady91 said:

In real life, no matter how well I get on with people it never gets past the workmate or acquaitance stage.

The following books may help here:

An Aspie's Guide to Making and Keeping Friends - Attwood, Tony, Evans, Craig R., Lesko, Anita (2015)
eISBN 9781784501259

Friendships The Aspie Way - Wendy Lawson (2006)
ISBN-10: 1 84310 427 X

Forming friendships tends to require some shared interests so while work offers a shared experience it is also a bit of shared suffering and too much time together for most people. You may get better results from going to clubs or events for any special interests you have.

I think it gets harder as you get older and have fewer natural, "ins" with people, no school or college, brownies, scouts whatever.

I'm involved in voluntary work with Estuary Ladies, where women of all ages come together to learn new skills and socialize.

I enjoy arts and crafts, photography, reading, word puzzle book and colouring, and listening to music on the BBC Sounds app.

Feel free to connect if we share common interests! Welcome to pm me.

Ive got two friends on Facebook and looking for one more. 

Had a clear out of friends who not in touch anymore.

Hi,

I'm sorry you find this too.  I find the people who I am friends with are too busy to reach out more and so it feels like a one sided situation with me contacting them more.  This makes me feel unwanted and unimportant in their lives.  They've assured me it is busyness and not because they don't value our friendship which I believe but it's hard.  I think one friend who I saw regularly that wasn't family would be enough. If I wasn't allergic to animals, I'd be a crazycatlady too. :-) 

Welcome! Your experience is certainly not unique. Hopefully this place helps you a little.