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Struggling with loneliness

To300

I have no friends or connections outside of my immediate family. I'm quite socially isolated. I dont have social media and I don't work or study, most of my days for the past eight years have been me and the dog. I just feel incredibly alone and misunderstood even when social opportunities have arrived in the past. It's probably worth noting I do have social anxiety and depression and im coming to realise ive probably been chronically overwhelmed my entire life because I cant cope with simple everyday things that a normal functioning adult should be able to cope with. Sometimes it just feels like im the only person stuck in this very *** position or rather that other people in the same position cope much better than i am right now. 

Parents

  • I'm sorry to hear how you're feeling. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for us to feel lonely or isolated.

    Alongside continuing to chat with us here (there are plenty of social discussions here, alongside other content), you might find some of the advice in these articles helpful:

    NAS - Loneliness - includes links to other examples of autistic people's experiences of loneliness and how they cope.

    NAS - Making friends - a guide for autistic adults

    NAS - Depression - for which I'd suggest seeking support from your GP, if you haven't yet done so.

    NAS - Anxiety - which GPs can also help with.

    You might like to consider asking your GP for a referral to your local social prescriber. Or just ask the GP’s admin team, who might be able to tell you how to self refer. A social prescriber’s (non-medical) role is to develop a personalised care and support plan that meets your social, practical, and emotional needs.

    For example, that could include helping you to get support with some of the things that you're struggling with from day to day. And/or also helping you to find local groups or socialising activities, if that’s something you'd like to explore. The service is very much driven by your personal needs and goals, so the social prescriber would start by working with you to learn what those are. 

    The article below explains more (it relates to England, but the same model operates throughout the UK):

    NHS England - Social prescribing

    You might also be able to find some socialising opportunities via the the NAS's directory, or through a local or online NAS branch:

    NAS - Autism Services Directory

    NAS - Branches

    As a final suggestion, you could search online (eg via Google) for any local groups that might fit with your interests and hobbies.

  • in reply to Bunny

    Thank you for the links, I will take a look. 

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