How do all you cope with long periods of isolation?

[Misty Avich]

I really relate to you on that, I was absolutely nothing to them. I was just the ‘special’ (their words, not mine) one they could get free laughs out of, punched me, kicked me, made my life miserable. I don’t really think I ever really recovered from that ostracisation.

It is hard to recover from, also being the only one diagnosed with an ASD in the family and probably all my close relatives being NTs doesn't help. Well my sister has some odd traits but I think it's just learning difficulties, not Asperger's. And even if she did have ASD traits, she still doesn't have all the severe anxiety and ADHD on top of it, and she seemed to have more friends than I did.
So while most people on the spectrum have parents, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, pets, and everybody else in their family with autism, I feel my ASD wasn't meant to be, that I was born an NT but something happened to my brain when I was 4, maybe I bumped my head or *cough-vaccine-cough* or anything like that.

 

[Chimorin]

It is hard to recover from, also being the only one diagnosed with an ASD in the family and probably all my close relatives being NTs doesn't help. Well my sister has some odd traits but I think it's just learning difficulties, not Asperger's. And even if she did have ASD traits, she still doesn't have all the severe anxiety and ADHD on top of it, and she seemed to have more friends than I did.
So while most people on the spectrum have parents, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, pets, and everybody else in their family with autism, I feel my ASD wasn't meant to be, that I was born an NT but something happened to my brain when I was 4, maybe I bumped my head or *cough-vaccine-cough* or anything like that.

I get you there, I wonder if some of my head injuries at a young age might have been to blame too. Ah well I guess, your played good cards and bad cards to be blunt.

 

[vergil96]

True, I’m just so burnt out these days I can barely hold a conversation without shutting down now lol, just so tired.

Internet communities? Related to interests?

I started taking a language course and met some nice people. Maybe you can also start a hobby group etc, something not solely focused on socializing.

Language classes are good too.

 

[Chimorin]

Internet communities? Related to interests?


Language classes are good too.

I used to be quite popular in niche internet circles under an alias a while ago, got ostracised from it though which was a bummer. Definitely starting to handle things a lot better now though, acceptance goes a long way I guess.

 

[Cryptid]

How do all you cope with long periods of isolation?

Far better than I cope with short periods of socialization.

 

[Chimorin]

Far better than I cope with short periods of socialization.

True that. I can barely hold a convo in real life without shutting down.

 

[Rachie]

Chimorin I haven't read all of the replies, but I am sure others will have given you very good advice already. If it helps try and take it.

It seems a theme of your threads that you are struggling with your autistic diagnosis. I think this may stir things in others as well.

Whenever I read or hear of people not getting social contact I get conerned. I hope you have people in your real life that you do see, Do what feels right for you, what you want and not want anybody else's wants. You can waste a lot of time socially just spent at home. At least I hope you are involved in doing things that you are interested in at home.

It is important for autistic people to try and be healthy as well, and staying at home isolated for prolonged periods for most people doesn't seem to lead to good health to me.

Try and take care of yourself.

I would encourage you to read these two threads on another forum, registering is not needed to read. See there though where this lack of interaction has led to and it is concerning and not desirable.
HELP BREAKING POINT - Mental health and wellbeing - Home - National Autistic Society - Our Community

I have a DS with ASD who lives with me and has no job or income. I worry about how he will cope in the future when I am no longer around - Autistic adults - Home - National Autistic Society - Our Community

 

[Rachie]

As I wrote above it concerns me when I read and hear of others especially at a young age being socially very isolated. I think autistics deserve better. I know when I was young I always needed some down time and loved it, but there is a limit that should be done. A once a week contact with human beings at least is better than nothing.
I do have personal experience of this. When I read those two threads I linked to I was shocked and it blew me apart. I don't want to comment further, but they can be read and this is a different forum and they are likely not members, but we can relate.

As I said I do have personal experience of this. I have a mixed presentation of an eating disorder and autistm although it was a late stage diagnosis. I was going through an old book and read something I wrote at 20, I had just turned 20. I wrote that I spent a year in the house and wanted it to change. I am 51 now. Looking at my life I would say what has had an impact is staying for too lenghty periods in social isolation and also being a people pleaser and doing things like courses to please others that just wasn't just for me and wasn't right for me. I will attach what I read.

I do wish you well.