Hi :). Life is hard ATM. Hoping to find some local aspies to connect with.

[fallenangel]

Would really really like to find people to talk to that understand some of the difficulties that aspies face. So so tired of having NTs tell me to 'just get over it' or judge me and tell me I'm not normal . Am located in Gold Coast Australia. Hoping to make some friends around me that don't judge and understand social anxieties. Even if someone knows of a local aspy community I could get in touch with, I would really appreciate the help. Not interested in 'support' and 'therapy' groups. Love who I am.....just need to feel understood sometimes.

 

[malortie]

fallenangel

In the first place, welcome to the forums. Your voice is important and people around here, as well as myself will help you on your ways to dealing with these hard situations. I can assure you that myself have faced many challenges during my life and I could not think of a better place than here to share and exchange.

I, along with the others hope that you will find what you are looking for and we will do our best to help you discover yourself.

 

[fallenangel]

Thank you for your welcome malortie . I appreciate it. This is my first online forum so I am still trying to work out how to use it. It is also my first time trying to reach out to other aspies so even your acknowledgement was welcome. I am really hoping that I can find the support I need within this community and am hoping that I will be able to feel useful to others as well.

 

[Rocco]

Welcome aboard Fallenangel!
I am glad another kindred spirit has joined our friendly community here. While you may be alone physically, this site and the members are here for you. I am on the other side of the world, but feel free to message me anytime about anything.
Best wishes,

 

[fallenangel]

Thank you Rocco for your welcome . I really like your use of light and shade in your art . Your contrasts are visually striking and pleasing to the eye . I am feeling drawn to artistic pursuits at the moment and hope that I too will be able to create as you do

 

[Rocco]

Thank you for the compliments

I started painting last year, with no prior training or experience, as self guided art therapy. It really saved me amid severe burnout/ breakdown.
I recommend painting your feelings in any way possible, if you can afford materials. (At least it helped me a lot)
FYI, free paints are sometimes available at collection sites where people throw old paint away. Also unwanted samples left over at hardware stores, home improvement places can be had for less than $1 each usually.
Occasionally I find random paint at a recycle place in an old folks community, near where they keep trash dumpsters.
One can paint on cardboard, wood, canvas, walls, where ever.

Ether way, I hope you can find something to help you through difficult times. I have definitely had plenty of struggles my own self, and so I extend my empathy and positive energy to you.
Best wishes.

 

[Myway]

Welcome. If you have questions you can always contact me or all of us to get opinions on things. This is a safe place to do that. I live in the USA, but you can contact me any time you want.

 

[Elemental]

Hi there welcome to the site, I'm one of Central 's many Spectrumites who got diagnosed later in life as a mature adult. Since coming out of denial two years ago after my original 1998 ASD / learning disabily diagnosis I've been reading & researching autism, which has been insightful & useful & I would recommend that to anybody affected by the condition in its myriad manifestations. Better than that perhaps was joining Central & a couple of other autism sites. Meting & mixing with other similarly affected people has helped hugely with my personal transitioning through my autism acceptance & accommodation. You are not alone!!

 

[Cosmophylla]

Hi fallenangel, thanks for introducing yourself.

I really understand that driving need you expressed to just be understood, not changed. It's hard, isn't it? People in Australia can be rather judgemental, huh... But I suppose the same is true anywhere.

I'm glad you joined AC. It's a really supportive community.

The only member I know of near-ish you is Vanilla, who is in Brisbane. She may know of a local Aspie group. I'm in SA.

 

[Vanilla]

Hi fallenangel, thanks for introducing yourself.

I really understand that driving need you expressed to just be understood, not changed. It's hard, isn't it? People in Australia can be rather judgemental, huh... But I suppose the same is true anywhere.

I'm glad you joined AC. It's a really supportive community.

The only member I know of near-ish you is Vanilla, who is in Brisbane. She may know of a local Aspie group. I'm in SA.

Someone summoned a hedgehog?

There's "Mind and Hearts" in Brisbane, if you don't mind a bit of a drive. They're run by Tony Attwood though, who is a world renown expert. People travel from all over the world to try and see him. Just be aware that he doesn't take anymore new clients, so you'd be seeing one of his associates, if you decided to go. If you're just looking to simply talk to someone though, Rachael Lee Harris is a psychotherapist in Petrie, who is the only specialist diagnosed with AS. She's also a friend of Tony Attwood. She often runs a "Aspie Sisterhood" kind of retreat too.

Minds and Hearts: http://www.mindsandhearts.net

Rachael Lee Harris: http://www.rlharrispsy.com

 

[royinpink]

Someone summoned a hedgehog?

There's "Mind and Hearts" in Brisbane, if you don't mind a bit of a drive. They're run by Tony Attwood though, who is a world renown expert. People travel from all over the world to try and see him. Just be aware that he doesn't take anymore new clients, so you'd be seeing one of his associates, if you decided to go. If you're just looking to simply talk to someone though, Rachael Lee Harris is a psychotherapist in Petrie, who is the only specialist diagnosed with AS. She's also a friend of Tony Attwood. She often runs a "Aspie Sisterhood" kind of retreat too.

Minds and Hearts: http://www.mindsandhearts.net

Rachael Lee Harris: http://www.rlharrispsy.com

Seconding getting in touch with Minds & Hearts--they run all sorts of groups and workshops, so if anyone knows how to connect you up with other aspies in Australia, they would.

Sidenote: what is with all the autism stuff in Australia? Donna Williams in Melbourne, Dr. Wenn (formerly Wendy) Lawson in Warrnambool, Victoria...you guys have some cool folks.

 

[Vanilla]

Seconding getting in touch with Minds & Hearts--they run all sorts of groups and workshops, so if anyone knows how to connect you up with other aspies in Australia, they would.

Sidenote: what is with all the autism stuff in Australia? Donna Williams in Melbourne, Dr. Wenn (formerly Wendy) Lawson in Warrnambool, Victoria...you guys have some cool folks.

Oh really? I'd never heard of those ones before. I'll have to look in to them. Not sure what brought them along, but I think Tony Attwood is English, so perhaps he has family here? Don't know enough about him to know for sure though.

 

[hiraeth]

Gold Coast was the first place in which I had the experience of a spiritual communion with the earth. It'll always have a special place in my heart.

 

[Progster]

Hi, and welcome to the forum I'm sure that you'll find that you are understood on this forum, as many of us have had very similar experiences in life, and nobody will judge you.