Social Isolation

[ZebraAutismo]

Anyone else have everyone around them going on about social isolation. I get that it’s a risk for people with autism and a key word to get support but I really hate that term. I’m having to bite my tongue filling in my wheelchair referral form. “She needs this so she will keep go out and seeing people despite pain”.

 

[Shamar]

Anyone else have everyone around them going on about social isolation. I get that it’s a risk for people with autism and a key word to get support but I really hate that term. I’m having to bite my tongue filling in my wheelchair referral form. “She needs this so she will keep go out and seeing people despite pain”.

It is quite a dichotomy. There is the desire and need for social interaction conflicting with the revulsion and pain of dealing with people. Sometimes I just want to scream in frustration.

 

[Judge]

Fear and loathing of social isolation seems like a Neurotypical bias passed onto the professional medical community. One erroneously assumed that applies to everyone, Neurodiverse or not.

I've lived in near isolation since 2007. Haven't been arrested or committed. Paying my bills and taxes without incident. It's when I go without a sense of solitude for a prolonged period of time that you don't want to be around me.

Go figure...

 

[Fino]

Isn't the OP just saying that they dislike the term "social isolation"?

 

[Judge]

Isn't the OP just saying that they dislike the term "social isolation"?

Personally I think it goes deeper than just the term itself. A term that unfairly reflects stigmatization. And one that is used to push people socially even when it may be a bad idea (depending on the circumstances) for those on the spectrum.

Makes me wonder if mass murderer Adam Lanza really wanted to be part of a gun club, or whether his mother deliberately pushed him in that direction in an attempt to be more social?

 

[Aspychata]

Feel that society does label us because we don't march along and play nicely. We keep to ourselves, obviously some of us are comfortable with it than others of us. I firmly embrace my empty apartment. It isn't loud, it doesn't tell me to get a beer, where is dinner, or calculate my weight or depose me on anything. Isolate and stay free fellow forum collective.

 

[Aspychata]

add the word "more" before comfortable. Edit tab isn't working

 

[Thinx]

I value solitude but I have always been aware of how hard it seems to participate in social activities and although I have often been happy to spend evenings alone with a book or TV I have often felt frustrated by the difficulties of being social. Understanding that I have a different brain has been helpful and realising many others find socialising straightforward because their brains are differently wired.

Nevertheless the difficulties are still there but I would also say there's a sense of dissatisfaction with what I attempt in that others disappoint. Social activities I'd like are not really out there. Silent side by side lego. With discussion in the tea break. Watching an arts film, and quiet, friendly turn taking discussion of our experience of it afterwards.

Walking in a group, silence for much of the time. A book discussion group with turn taking not free for all. Respectfull listening to the views of others. Time limits on inputs... I guess the meaning of social interaction would be different if we were in the majority. Hence we are socially isolated when we avoid neurotypical socialising.

 

[Progster]

It is generally believed that social isolation is bad for people, as it can lead to depression and other mental health issues. People tend to assume that being alone means being lonely, but there is a difference between being alone, and being lonely. Lonely is bad and can indeed lead to depression, but being alone doesn't automatically mean that one is lonely. Introverted people can enjoy their own company and don't have such a great need for social interaction, but but that doesn't mean that they are lonely or that it is bad for them.

 

[Hareofhrair]

I’m struggling pretty directly with social isolation at the moment. I can’t drive, so it’s difficult for me to get out and socialize to begin with, even before all the brain stuff gets in the way. I’m basically a shut in and I end up relying on the people I live with as basically my only social interaction. My anxiety makes living alone almost impossible. Im too afraid of being alone.
Going out and being social also sucks and is so exhausting and stressful, but it’s better than the alternative. I have no one to turn to for help, no one to rely on. Nowhere to go when im losing my apartment...
Isolation makes every problem we’re already dealing with worse, because there’s no support.

 

[Wolfnox]

I share both sides. Their are days where i really want a woman at my side. One of many reasons I dont like vacations. Other times i prefer it alone. Given all the craziness going on. Being alone feels like the right choice right now.

 

[SDRSpark]

I value solitude but I have always been aware of how hard it seems to participate in social activities and although I have often been happy to spend evenings alone with a book or TV I have often felt frustrated by the difficulties of being social. Understanding that I have a different brain has been helpful and realising many others find socialising straightforward because their brains are differently wired.

Nevertheless the difficulties are still there but I would also say there's a sense of dissatisfaction with what I attempt in that others disappoint. Social activities I'd like are not really out there. Silent side by side lego. With discussion in the tea break. Watching an arts film, and quiet, friendly turn taking discussion of our experience of it afterwards.

Walking in a group, silence for much of the time. A book discussion group with turn taking not free for all. Respectfull listening to the views of others. Time limits on inputs... I guess the meaning of social interaction would be different if we were in the majority. Hence we are socially isolated when we avoid neurotypical socialising.

This is how I feel. I'm almost a recluse at times, and I definitely have had lifelong difficulties with socialization.

At the same time, too much socialization leaves me exhausted. I met three new friends this weekend (yay!) and spent a lot of time around people, and by last night I was totally out of character from emotional and mental exhaustion. I didn't want to write in my journal, or talk to my friends, or even explore/learn about some gifts that I had been given that normally I would be all over. I was also wide awake at 3AM, which is unusual for me.

For me, too much of a good thing is a dangerous thing. I need solitude or bad things happen.

 

[Kyou Nukui]

Anyone else have everyone around them going on about social isolation

Nope, no one around to say anything to me, and (unusually it seems) I'm not content with that. I don't live with anyone, I don't have a social group or friends, I don't like being isolated but I am.
I often wonder where all the other autists are.

 

[Wolfnox]

Their all ninjas!

 

[Swag]

I'm a str8 shut in homie

 

[Bolletje]

Not me. I’m not very sociable by choice, but I have a long term relationship, a group of friends I see infrequently but chat with regularly, a job and a good bond with my family.

 

[mummifiedcircuitry]

I'm not sure how to describe what socializing is for me. I think most ppl would describe me as pleasant to be around once they get to know me but usually I'm not more than a casual acquaintance for ppl. I don't have a best friend really. It feels like I'm playing a character most of the time. I don't really feel connections to ppl.

Sorry, these thoughts popped into my head when I saw the phrase social isolation and am wondering if anyone knows what I mean.