Hey

[JoinTheChase]

Hey

 

I'm a 23 year old girl from Hampshire. I was diagnosed with Asperger's a couple of months ago, so it's all kinda new to me.

 

Would like to get to know some other Aspies and make new friends.

 

Chase =)

[Special_talent123]

Hi welcome Chase, I am from dorset but going to be moving away. I am 22 years old and I have autism.

[rufusrufus]

Hi! I'm Ruth, I'm 26 and I'm in Liverpool, but I've recently been diagnosed too. How do you feel about your diagnosis? I was relieved to have it, finally, but after the initial euphoria I felt really sorry for the child-version of me who had to go through a horrible time because no-one understood me and I had a good cry about it. On the whole, I'm really happy now though Welcome to the forum

[JoinTheChase]

Hi! I'm Ruth, I'm 26 and I'm in Liverpool, but I've recently been diagnosed too. How do you feel about your diagnosis? I was relieved to have it, finally, but after the initial euphoria I felt really sorry for the child-version of me who had to go through a horrible time because no-one understood me and I had a good cry about it. On the whole, I'm really happy now though Welcome to the forum

 

thanks

 

Fairly similar really. Glad to have an explanation and for my parents to know I wasn't being difficult on purpose. On the other hand, always going to struggle etc. I think I'd be happier about it if there were any local groups or whatever, but the nearest groups are over half an hour away, so adding an hour of travel to new places and new people makes them too much.

 

Want to make new friends though. Bored of being lonely.

[Special_talent123]

I dont know what part of hampshire u are? What about Bristol. I am sure trekster will love to have u. I am in her bath group, i am moving over there

[rufusrufus]

thanks

 

Fairly similar really. Glad to have an explanation and for my parents to know I wasn't being difficult on purpose. On the other hand, always going to struggle etc. I think I'd be happier about it if there were any local groups or whatever, but the nearest groups are over half an hour away, so adding an hour of travel to new places and new people makes them too much.

 

Want to make new friends though. Bored of being lonely.

 

I find it easier to make friends online, I still count that as socialising and give myself a pat on the back for it There's always the possibility of meeting up with online friends in person, but as there's no obligation to, I feel less pressure, but interacting via the computer has been helping me stave off the loneliness recently. I also really know how you feel about the travel thing, I'm exactly the same. There's a pony sanctuary near Liverpool that I went to volunteer at a while ago, and I really enjoyed it, but it takes 1hr 20mins either way to get there, and I just can't cope with that, AND actually doing an activity in between

I'm not sure my Dad really believes in my diagnosis, which makes me a bit sad. I think it's because I'm pretty sure he's Aspie too, but he sees himself as quirky and eccentric, but feels an official diagnosis would mean there's something "wrong" with him. Therefore he doesn't want to see it in me, either. My mum's supportive though. I really recommend any book by Rudy Simone, by the way. I love reading her stuff, it's as though she's writing just about me!

I hope you make some friends here, we are awesome

[JoinTheChase]

I find it easier to make friends online, I still count that as socialising and give myself a pat on the back for it There's always the possibility of meeting up with online friends in person, but as there's no obligation to, I feel less pressure, but interacting via the computer has been helping me stave off the loneliness recently. I also really know how you feel about the travel thing, I'm exactly the same. There's a pony sanctuary near Liverpool that I went to volunteer at a while ago, and I really enjoyed it, but it takes 1hr 20mins either way to get there, and I just can't cope with that, AND actually doing an activity in between

I'm not sure my Dad really believes in my diagnosis, which makes me a bit sad. I think it's because I'm pretty sure he's Aspie too, but he sees himself as quirky and eccentric, but feels an official diagnosis would mean there's something "wrong" with him. Therefore he doesn't want to see it in me, either. My mum's supportive though. I really recommend any book by Rudy Simone, by the way. I love reading her stuff, it's as though she's writing just about me!

I hope you make some friends here, we are awesome

 

Haha thanks. I do find making friends online easier, but I really want some friends I can meet up with more regularly, so the closer the better. I'm sure I'll figure something out. My parents have both been really supportive, and I think they're relieved that family life was difficult because of something no one can help rather than because they were bad parents. Neither of them are on the spectrum, but my mum has several traits. We think my grandma on her side might have been, but she's dead now, so it's just speculation.

I'd love to find somewhere local that I could work with animals just to get me out, but all the local places atm require too much commitment (full days etc) so can't atm.

 

And Special_talent123 thanks for the suggestion, but Bristol is about 2 hours away, so not exactly convenient.

[Special_talent123]

sometimes she comes down to southampton central?

[rufusrufus]

Haha thanks. I do find making friends online easier, but I really want some friends I can meet up with more regularly, so the closer the better. I'm sure I'll figure something out. My parents have both been really supportive, and I think they're relieved that family life was difficult because of something no one can help rather than because they were bad parents. Neither of them are on the spectrum, but my mum has several traits. We think my grandma on her side might have been, but she's dead now, so it's just speculation.

I'd love to find somewhere local that I could work with animals just to get me out, but all the local places atm require too much commitment (full days etc) so can't atm.

 

And Special_talent123 thanks for the suggestion, but Bristol is about 2 hours away, so not exactly convenient.

 

Have you tried googling online forums related to your interests? I've made some good friends from an online reptile-keeping forum, from when I used to keep lizards. There are often local enthusiast groups for all sorts of things, and there's at least one conversation topic you can all partake in, so it makes it a little bit easier I think!

I'm glad your parents are supportive. I think my Mum felt bad for me because she's a teacher and felt she should have spotted my traits, but to be honest, I've got a degree in psychology and I only really began to see it in myself in the last few years! I think there are people on both sides of my family who had it, but again, most have died now, so we'll never know for sure.

Volunteering with animals would be my ideal passtime too, but nothing's turned up yet. I'm thinking about contacting the Cinnamon Trust - they put you in touch with local people who need their dogs walking. I'd be fine with the dogs, but it's the meeting different people I'm not sure I could handle at the moment. Fingers crossed both of us find something, eh?

[darkshine]

Hi

[trekster]

I dont know what part of hampshire u are? What about Bristol. I am sure trekster will love to have u. I am in her bath group, i am moving over there

 

To make things clear I happen to run the Bath Autism Social groups. Welcome JoinTheChase, are you a fan of the TV show 'the chase' by any chance? The groups I happen to co-run accept autistic/asperger folk once myself and my colleagues have approved them. We have to be sure that the group and the member would be suitable for each other.