Published on 12, July, 2020
Hello,
I am not diagnosed but I believe I am autistic. All my life I have struggled with friendships. But as a child growing up in a family of 9 children I was not expected to make friends outside of my family. At school I struggled and was bullied but I was very ill for a year so never caught up and was then labelled as having a learning disability. I couldn’t wait to leave school eventually studied to be a nurse and then study for a degree in psychology. I hated uni. Again because of the social aspect but work has always been ok because expectations being clear of what to do and conversation with people was always about work. Now I am retired, married and have a child with autism. I am so lonely. I have people all around me but struggle so much . I avoid contact because it makes me so anxious and I always get it wrong.
I’m not so sure I’m happily married.
Thank you. I’m not sure I’m going to get better at the friendships. I think I have to accept myself and make that my priority first.
Thank you. Feels strange to speak about it at the age of 61. I realise I’ve hidden behind the structure of work. Now I don’t have it I’m lost in conversation. I seem to interrogate people rather than converse with them.
I guess so.
Thank you.
Eble
You're married and have a child so you've managed to have something positive in your life. Lots of people don't even have that.
Hi
Welcome to this forum
Well done in getting the degree that is quite an achievement.
It good to express your inner thoughts here.
I to have struggled with friendships but I am getting better at it
First I think you should update your profile name from NAS74355 to like a human name or some character u like.
Now you can feel confident enough to join in other conversations on here
Well, you haven't got your first post wrong - it's very well written.