New Here and Don't have an official diagnosis

Hey everyone, I'm new to this website/forum and just want to introduce myself. I don't have an official autism diagnosis, more depression and crippling social anxiety, but I seem to fit many of the criteria for autism and my younger brother and father are both autistic so I likely am as well.

I am a 27 year old man with no friends, no social life and no job and I still live with my parents, so making friends is a bit difficult for me. I struggle with self confidence issues but would like to begin making friends, even if they are online for now.

My family are helpful and supportive, but I am a romantic at heart and would desperately like a girlfriend and wife, something my autism and self confidence issues don't help with. I am here to start socialising in a secure environment as a start on this road.

My interests would probably be considered stereotypical for autistic men, being video games, reading, trains (particularly steam), model railways and history.

Parents
  • Hello DafyddKear,

    wellcome to the Community. I too, enjoy reading and have a interest in railways and driving trains on Train Sim. I enjoyed a trip down to the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire diesel gala in July as well as a relaced running day at the Great Central. I got to ride behind a Hymek for the first time and had fun. Class 37 sounded wonderful too.

  • Hi, nice to meet you. Thanks for the welcome. 

    I enjoy Train Sim games as well, particularly Train Sim World Classic, simply because of the number of steam engines available on the game. I've been to many heritage railways this year, I was at the West Somerset Steam Weekend a few weeks ago which was fun. I do like the soft purr or the full throated roar of a diesel, but nothing can beat the steady bark and chuff of a steam engine in my mind.

  • Hello, yes I did hear a BR Standard five while at the GCR and that sounded great climbing out of Woodhouse Eaves. I did get to ride behind a 9F on one visit. The GCR under BR was famous for using 9F's on passenger trains and speeds of 90mph were noted. Have you been to the GCR? I have yet to visit the WS. I did get to drive a Jubilee when volunteering at a railway but this was late at night as we were keeping it in steam overnight, nice and warm, sleeping on the cab floor plus we cooked on the shovel. I was hopeless at firing which explains why I like diesels.   

  • Thank you for the information regarding Loughborough, I'd forgotten to check that end of the line. 
    I live in South Wales so Crewe is a bit of journey for me to do in one day, but I would like to visit the Heritage Centre there one day, I've been through multiple times aboard mainline steam rail tours and always enjoy looking into the sidings and yards to see whatever I can.

    The nearest heritage railway to me is the Dean Forest Railway, and even that's quite a distance and awkward to get to. I don't think they do accommodation for volunteers, and even then it would be a while before I feel comfortable doing something like that, but thank you for the information regarding it.

Reply
  • Thank you for the information regarding Loughborough, I'd forgotten to check that end of the line. 
    I live in South Wales so Crewe is a bit of journey for me to do in one day, but I would like to visit the Heritage Centre there one day, I've been through multiple times aboard mainline steam rail tours and always enjoy looking into the sidings and yards to see whatever I can.

    The nearest heritage railway to me is the Dean Forest Railway, and even that's quite a distance and awkward to get to. I don't think they do accommodation for volunteers, and even then it would be a while before I feel comfortable doing something like that, but thank you for the information regarding it.

Children
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