Feeling like I’m disliked/annoying everyone

It is extremely unlikely that you or the other posters here this morning are actually disliked. It takes a lot of effort for someone to dislike you.

Annoying - possibly, but if your are sinking into the background then this is unlikely too. Imagine something the other way around for example, someone that makes loud food eating noises which grates on you. You probably just find that aspect annoying. But it is the act, rather than the person.

The most likely scenario is indifference. You sink into the background (deliberately, or auto-maskingly - I've just made up a word!)

So, how do you make yourself heard in a large group where people people rapid-fire talk and move on to the next subject when you are still trying to say your point about the previous subject?

One thing that works for me is - put your hand up! Yes, like you are in school! Don't do it slowly. (Practice on your own putting you hand up so that people will see it in their peripheral vision, but not so fast that you risk punching your neighbour in the jaw)

This really does work a lot of the time. Try to do it with a smile (difficult, and masking but low effort masking)

The next question is what to do when all attention is on you...

(Incidentally - I am doing an autistics communication course starting in a few weeks, for 6 weeks. I'll report back here on any tips that I get)

I don't find it hard at all to dislike someone, it's an instinctive thing, something in my gut tells me there's something wrong or off about someone, so I reserve judgement, unless they've said something horrendous at the outset.

I don't find it hard at all to dislike someone, it's an instinctive thing, something in my gut tells me there's something wrong or off about someone, so I reserve judgement, unless they've said something horrendous at the outset.