Hi

Hi I'm Lauren and I'm new here. I have autism, I was diagnosed in my early teens. I'm 18 now and life is tricky. I'm anxious a lot and I'm having to try and balance functioning and managing my anxiety and autistic struggles. Recently my mums become chronically ill and this is taking some processing too.

I'm in to drawing, music and collecting things. Oh and I love animals. Sometimes I think animals are better company than most people lol. They're easier to talk to for sure.

I'm hoping I'll get on ok here. Talking to people, even online makes me anxious. I've no idea why but it's always been like this for me. Be nice to meet others who are like me and get what it's like being autistic.

Have a chill day x.

  • Welcome to you too. Slight smile

    I worked out how to upload pics! I'll contirbute to the art thread later on.

  • Hi and welcome to the community - hope you enjoy chatting with us

  • I don't like having hot and cold things on the same plate.

    Now that you mention it, I think I've always felt uneasy about that, too. Lasagne and salad? Sure, but on separate plates (who likes limp lettuce?). And I'll eat all the lasagne first, because I like my hot food to be hot.

    Does that mean we're both weird, or does it mean that it's not weird any more?

  • That's great I'm glad to hear it. I'm pretty new myself. 

    No pressure with showing anything obviously. Only when you are ready. Think there's an option to attach pictures. Don't quote me though haha.

  • Hi Jordan, thanks so much. I've already enjoyed being here more than I thought I actually would. It's a friendly environment and calm which is exactly what I was hoping for!

    I'm sure I speak for everyone that we'd love to see some of your artwork sometime.

    Aw thanks. I'll look in to doing this. I'm not sure how to add pictures but I'll look in to it.

  • Hi Lauren. I hope you enjoy it on here. I'm sure I speak for everyone that we'd love to see some of your artwork sometime.

    Take care x

  • I do ramble a lot lol and sometimes I think those around me are wondering what I'm even talking about. 

    But it's good to know I can be myself here

    It's best to be yourself, it's easier. It's important to find people you can be open with. Bottling things up causes problems.

    You may notice you make connections others don't. They may think you are rambling because they don't see how the things are linked. As long as you do, it's fine.

    You may be rambling because you are thinking out loud. You say a variety of things but they are not coherent because you are trying to form a thought, or put them onto a narrative to make sense

    You may ramble because you need to provide more information to explain why you think what you do. There is a tendency to either state the conclusion, then people call you blunt, or to over explain. It is hard to get it right. It also depends on how much energy you have.

    These things are all normal.

    The problem with art is I want it to be perfect. It is good if you can just try things without worrying about how good it is. It is how you learn and you may end up good by accident. I'm pleased you enjoy your painting.

  • Sometimes finding things that you enjoy can be a great distraction technique. I hope it helps you to decompress. Anyway if you want to talk feel free to drop a message.

    Thanks, you too Blush

  • Thank you. I do ramble a lot lol and sometimes I think those around me are wondering what I'm even talking about. 

    But it's good to know I can be myself here.

    I only wash my hands in cold water and I double check the front door is locked so hard I broke the lock. I don't like having hot and cold things on the same plate. Etc

    This sounds sensible to me lol Blush 

    Our front door has a security chain which I managed to pull off the door once lmao so don't worry you aren't the only one with a door mishap Laughing

    I'm very OCD about security, especially at night so before I go to bed I'll check the front door is locked, the windows are locked and I can use my phone to make sure the house alarm is off. 

  • Hi, thanks so much! I'm already so glad I joined here. Everyone is so friendly Relaxed️ 

  • Hi, thank you. It's really difficult at the moment there's a lot of change and adjusting to things and I think that's what's affecting me most. I get anxious easily but I'm trying to find new ways of coping with it.

    Like recently I've started painting. I've always loved drawing so I thought I would give painting a try as well, and so far it's been a lot of fun!

    The results aren't fantasticLaughing lol but I'm doing it for the relaxation more than anything else Blush 

    I really hope I can make some friends that would be lovely. 

    Have a chill day.

  • Hiya Lauren, welcome to the community here! I have you enjoy it here!

  • Hi Lauren,

    I’m sorry to hear about your mum, that can’t be easy for you at all. I’m new on here too. I get anxious talking to people too but the people on here seem nice and approachable from what I’ve experienced. It would be nice if you’re able to talk to people and make some like-minded friends. I hope things get better for you. Best wishes

  • You can say as much as you like. You might notice some of the posts on here are longer than you would typically see on the internet. Others are short. It's not a competition, just say what you want.

    I would t worry about being weird. Everyone has their thing.

    I only wash my hands in cold water and I double check the front door is locked so hard I broke the lock. I don't like having hot and cold things on the same plate. Etc 

  • Hi! Thank you so much Smiley 

    Thanks I'm really excited to be here and I'm looking forward to being active here. It seems like a nice place to be and I already feel so welcome and like I belong here. 

    You're welcome. I hope you were able to stay cool today. It was so hot here, I was melting today. That's a really good idea of making ice cubes. I think I'll try that tomorrow. It's ment to be about 29 degrees here tomorrow.

    Too hot for me No mouth 

    Hope you have a lovely "cool" evening.

  • Hi! 

    Thanks for explaining this, it's something that was bothering me a little because I was like why am I even anxious about this? It's only online chat . But actually that's pretty big. I think it is anyway. 

    It's big for me. 

    I struggle with engaging with others. In person is worst but I'm not great at it as a whole. I worry in case I come across as horrible or if I'm too weird or say too much. 

    I used to be so scared of saying the wrong thing

    This is literally me all the time! 

    Thanks for your understanding. It means a lot and it's reassuring and a comfort Slight smile 

    It's really sad with mum but she's doing ok. It's just a bit hard to watch happen but I'm good. Take it each day really that's how I get through stuff. 

    I love collecting dolls, Pokémon cards, Simpsons stuff and I've got a huge collection of cds.

  • Hello.

    Talking to people, even online, can make you anxious because you can't predict what will happen. You don't know them. Although I still get unexpected responses from people I do know.

    The thing is to be confident and have a go, which you have done.BlushOnce you start it can snowball.

    It will get easier. Your views are equally valid. I hope you enjoy it.

    I used to be so scared of saying the wrong thing

    Just don't be discouraged by unexpected responses. I'd analyse them to death to figure out what I'd missed and assume I was wrong. But I do it much less now and just ask them if I'm bothered by it.

    Animals are often easier to read. 

    I'm sorry about your mum, it's additional stress.

    What do you like to collect?