Hello, just joined

Hello and welcome :) I think it’s great that you have joined up here - I totally understand your social struggles. I’m in the same boat and I’m making a real effort with being sociable to try and build both social skills and maybe make new friends along the way :) 

Hi, thanks =) The fact that you're making the effort is very commendable. I normally just lurk in the background, but I'll try to converse more with people too =)

Ion usually do the same but then I realised how being so isolated and lonely wasn’t helping my wellbeing - as such I decided to try to be proactive, although it doesn’t come naturally to me to be sociable. You should definitely converse with others more as you come across as an interesting person :) 

Ditto - see there’s always positives even to something as difficult as ASD. I grant it’s not always easy but I like to think it’s not all bad. I spend too much of my life researching - I’m a history geek! 

 I've just thought of something! I like researching and finding out about things.

=)

Yeah I think it would be easier. You will need to message me as your account has the default settings which doesn’t allow me to message you. My settings have been set to allow anyone to message me :) once you’ve initiated the conversation it will however let me reply I believe :) 

I think for me I love my analytical mindset and even done of my black and white thinking I find quite comforting. I think my least favourite traits relate to my social skills. 

I look forward to your message :) 

Okay, I don't mind chatting in private. It would probably be much easier =) 

I can't really think of any traits that I like, at the moment. It's difficult to know what is a trait and what isn't. I would probably get rid of the sensory difficulties. I can see when food looks delicious, but I wouldn't be able to eat them due to the smell or texture. The concentration issues would probably be my first choice, though. Imagine all of the things I'd be able to do then! Although, maybe a lot of my inability to concentrate stem from the sensory side (like unignorable sounds and textures). 

I look forward to being med-free! I think I have around 2 months left before I start being weaned off. I'll make sure that I'll use the time wisely and be productive.

=)

Fortunately my parents only ever text, my brother stays in touch via WhatsApp - so I’ve a system that works :) I may end up returning to social media sometime, but not for now. 

What your teachers said about you subs me up - but I guess I am what I am, I know my abilities and that’s what matters I guess.

By the way if it’s easier than using thus thread, feel free to send me a private message instead.   My account settings have been changed so anyone can message me :) just figured that may be slightly easier.

Heres a question... which of your traits do you like and which would you get rid of tomorrow if you had the chance?

Going med free is great but obviously only do it when it’s right for you :)  I won’t lie, it’s initially tough but once your body and head has adapted it feels good because you know you are back in control. 

That is great to hear that you're managing really well without medication =) I don't have the best willpower, but I will try to get my head together and follow my aspirations (without being too hard on myself). 

A quote that was used to describe me by various teachers throughout secondary school was: "You've got plenty in your head - the knowledge is all there. You just need to make the effort and apply yourself". Looking up other people on the spectrum's experiences, I found that a lot of other people had the same thing told to them.

Yes, that's true! The past is in the past, there's no changing it. What you can change is the now and the future. 

Social media is not healthy at all to people's mental wellbeing, no. My dad used to message us on Facebook, even though I kept saying that I don't go on it anymore. He now understands that if he wants to connect with me, he can do so through text. I use discord to chat with my friends as it's geared more towards gaming. 

=)

I totally get what you mean about customers feeling uncomfortable with a lack of eye contact. I used to work in retail but I usually tried to get into non-customer facing roles as it is where I was most comfortable. I didn’t know it was ASD then of course, I just knew what felt right and what didn’t. 

What you said about the glass half empty/ full analogy makes sense. I think we are fairly alike in this - I see myself as a realist - sometimes the realism is positive, sometimes negative but always very real, I think it’s a good way to be. I think I’m often viewed as a pessimist by others but I don’t think that’s the case - too many people are stuck in idealism and thus I think lose touch with reality.

I‘m actually off all medication now so it is possible to turn things right around. I still have spells where I’m not so good, but I’m so much better than I was - the fact I don’t need meds is testimony to that. I used to be I various meds so I think it’s quite an achievement. So I have full confidence that when the time is right you’ll manage too - it’s 90% willpower to be honest. 

I got a C in maths too (I was in higher tier) - when you consider how little I did in year 10 and 11 it’s not terrible, but I should have done better. My grades rarely reflect my ability which is frustrating as I’m naturally smart but don’t have grades that paint a fair picture of me but I try not to get too hung up on it... it’s in the past right? The future is what matters. 

I don’t use Facebook either. I use WhatsApp and that’s it. Like you I wasted too much of my life on social media and I don’t think it’s conducive to good mental wellbeing. I’m happy for people to email me, text or use WhatsApp. I don’t feel I need anything more - it works and I’m relatively laid back about people having my details - so yeah, don’t need Facebook! 

I totally get what you mean about customers feeling uncomfortable with a lack of eye contact. I used to work in retail but I usually tried to get into non-customer facing roles as it is where I was most comfortable. I didn’t know it was ASD then of course, I just knew what felt right and what didn’t. 

What you said about the glass half empty/ full analogy makes sense. I think we are fairly alike in this - I see myself as a realist - sometimes the realism is positive, sometimes negative but always very real, I think it’s a good way to be. I think I’m often viewed as a pessimist by others but I don’t think that’s the case - too many people are stuck in idealism and thus I think lose touch with reality.

I‘m actually off all medication now so it is possible to turn things right around. I still have spells where I’m not so good, but I’m so much better than I was - the fact I don’t need meds is testimony to that. I used to be I various meds so I think it’s quite an achievement. So I have full confidence that when the time is right you’ll manage too - it’s 90% willpower to be honest. 

I got a C in maths too (I was in higher tier) - when you consider how little I did in year 10 and 11 it’s not terrible, but I should have done better. My grades rarely reflect my ability which is frustrating as I’m naturally smart but don’t have grades that paint a fair picture of me but I try not to get too hung up on it... it’s in the past right? The future is what matters. 

I don’t use Facebook either. I use WhatsApp and that’s it. Like you I wasted too much of my life on social media and I don’t think it’s conducive to good mental wellbeing. I’m happy for people to email me, text or use WhatsApp. I don’t feel I need anything more - it works and I’m relatively laid back about people having my details - so yeah, don’t need Facebook! 

Ditto - see there’s always positives even to something as difficult as ASD. I grant it’s not always easy but I like to think it’s not all bad. I spend too much of my life researching - I’m a history geek! 

 I've just thought of something! I like researching and finding out about things.

=)

Yeah I think it would be easier. You will need to message me as your account has the default settings which doesn’t allow me to message you. My settings have been set to allow anyone to message me :) once you’ve initiated the conversation it will however let me reply I believe :) 

I think for me I love my analytical mindset and even done of my black and white thinking I find quite comforting. I think my least favourite traits relate to my social skills. 

I look forward to your message :) 

Okay, I don't mind chatting in private. It would probably be much easier =) 

I can't really think of any traits that I like, at the moment. It's difficult to know what is a trait and what isn't. I would probably get rid of the sensory difficulties. I can see when food looks delicious, but I wouldn't be able to eat them due to the smell or texture. The concentration issues would probably be my first choice, though. Imagine all of the things I'd be able to do then! Although, maybe a lot of my inability to concentrate stem from the sensory side (like unignorable sounds and textures). 

I look forward to being med-free! I think I have around 2 months left before I start being weaned off. I'll make sure that I'll use the time wisely and be productive.

=)

Fortunately my parents only ever text, my brother stays in touch via WhatsApp - so I’ve a system that works :) I may end up returning to social media sometime, but not for now. 

What your teachers said about you subs me up - but I guess I am what I am, I know my abilities and that’s what matters I guess.

By the way if it’s easier than using thus thread, feel free to send me a private message instead.   My account settings have been changed so anyone can message me :) just figured that may be slightly easier.

Heres a question... which of your traits do you like and which would you get rid of tomorrow if you had the chance?

Going med free is great but obviously only do it when it’s right for you :)  I won’t lie, it’s initially tough but once your body and head has adapted it feels good because you know you are back in control. 

That is great to hear that you're managing really well without medication =) I don't have the best willpower, but I will try to get my head together and follow my aspirations (without being too hard on myself). 

A quote that was used to describe me by various teachers throughout secondary school was: "You've got plenty in your head - the knowledge is all there. You just need to make the effort and apply yourself". Looking up other people on the spectrum's experiences, I found that a lot of other people had the same thing told to them.

Yes, that's true! The past is in the past, there's no changing it. What you can change is the now and the future. 

Social media is not healthy at all to people's mental wellbeing, no. My dad used to message us on Facebook, even though I kept saying that I don't go on it anymore. He now understands that if he wants to connect with me, he can do so through text. I use discord to chat with my friends as it's geared more towards gaming. 

=)