I don't have any autistic friends

I use instagram and although it’s too much, I like it because the algorithm sends me posts which I like - science, technology, language related posts, space etc. so I like sitting there and reading or watching it. I also love Videos from production processes. I have fun there and a friend who I hang out with sometimes. But otherwise I don’t care about social media and trends there,  don’t care about showing myself in a way that I seem cool to NTs etc. I have few autistic online friends, met in forums, but in real life I have no friends. I have one friend abroad, she is my long term friend for nearly 2 decades, she is not autistic, but we used to get on really well in the past. Now it’s kind of toxic and idk hard to explain. I have my husband and daughter and also have absolutely 0 friends where we are living. I go out to the playground with my daughter and feel like a total outcast among other parents who sit, chat, laugh etc, but I can’t. Sometimes I get weird stares from other parents or even kids when I sit and stim and it reminds me of those times when I was bullied as a kid. I get anxious about going to the playground but I do it for my daughter. I would like to get some help in social interactions but I’m not sure if I ever get it. 

I use instagram and although it’s too much, I like it because the algorithm sends me posts which I like - science, technology, language related posts, space etc. so I like sitting there and reading or watching it. I also love Videos from production processes. I have fun there and a friend who I hang out with sometimes. But otherwise I don’t care about social media and trends there,  don’t care about showing myself in a way that I seem cool to NTs etc. I have few autistic online friends, met in forums, but in real life I have no friends. I have one friend abroad, she is my long term friend for nearly 2 decades, she is not autistic, but we used to get on really well in the past. Now it’s kind of toxic and idk hard to explain. I have my husband and daughter and also have absolutely 0 friends where we are living. I go out to the playground with my daughter and feel like a total outcast among other parents who sit, chat, laugh etc, but I can’t. Sometimes I get weird stares from other parents or even kids when I sit and stim and it reminds me of those times when I was bullied as a kid. I get anxious about going to the playground but I do it for my daughter. I would like to get some help in social interactions but I’m not sure if I ever get it. 

I loved chat rooms back in the early 2000s, I made loads of friends on there, some I'm still in touch with now. I don't like what the internet's turned into now though.

I have a daughter and I've tried to break into the mum's group but I was unsuccessful. They seem to have a secret body language code where the recognise each other and sense those who don't have it. The other parent's are nice but I'm miles away from being in the clique. The school run is 100% the worst part of parenting, if I had the money I would employ someone to do it for me!

Hi, I’m not on the spectrum, but I’m here for a family member. Just wanted to assure you that I don’t have many friends either! I actually enjoy my solitude. Don’t feel like the world ends if you don’t have friends; I find more peace in my own company, doing art, than I would with a thousand friends. I’m just a normal person, but let me tell you, many people can be toxic, so don’t stress. Find something you love to do in your free time. Art is incredibly helpful—painting is relaxing and enjoyable.