Meeting With Others With Aspergers.

[Eustace]

Greetings fellow atypicals,

 

I recently decided to push myself and went to a local group wherein individuals on the spectrum all meet up once a week. Upon entry to the room, I had a minor panic attack and went into shutdown mode, but stayed the whole time. Luckily, the volunteers running the session allowed my mother to stay with me, and us two just played cards the whole time (communication with other members seemed far too ... impossible I suppose). The room was terribly noisy and smelly, and with the members all moving around the room, I felt highly paranoid about anybody touching me. Overall, I'm ... glad I went, but me and my mother both feel the same way about the benefits I could obtain from going; at this stage, group sessions might still be a bit too advanced for me. Nevertheless, I tried.

 

So, on to the reason I write this topic. I noticed the other sticky thread about "Aspie Meetups" and contemplating the idea, I really like it. For me, I'm an individual whom deplores mass-socialisation, thus, would like - if possible - to be able to attend meet ups wherein only a few other individuals attend. I live on the south coast, between Poole and Bournemouth, and was wondering if any other individuals perhaps lived near that vicinity, whom also like the idea of little meet ups.

 

I feel as though I need to talk to others, but don't have the confidence to do it en masse, nor do I have anybody ... of my ... kind ... I suppose, whom I can share with comfortably. I'm not sure how this kind of thing works, so if an admin reads this and doesn't like it, just tell me what to do, and I'll do it. I'm not sure if people who like the idea should reply here, or by personal message.

 

I think a good place to start, is just to gauge whether people are interested in small groups, and then to formulate the logistics of the meetups, thus, perhaps if people could just reply to this topic to say whether they are in fact interested, we could move on from there.

 

Thank you for the read,

 

As always, a pleasure,

 

Eustace.

 

P.S. Upon posting the topic, I realised the dreadful topic title; five words and two of them are the same, horrendous. I do apologise.

Edited January 10, 2015 by Eustace

[Waterboatman]

Eustace I am just of the A4 between Newbury & Reading, I am also a person who has difficulty with numbers, although I have established methods for coping.

 

The wisdom of meeting is perhaps a bit iffy, I am game regardless.

 

Also as distances are involved, best wait until the days lengthen and the climate less inclined to hurl ice & snow. granted it is very warm at the moment.

 

My main problem is that I am not self mobile, someone has to take me. Frustrating really I used to drive your sought of distance and back easily. In truth my physical condition will prevent me traveling very far, so an meet up involving me must be an easy distance. A few others will also have this sought of problem.

 

Another topic suggests skype as a first method, vaguely remember using it once.

 

For now this topic. For a smaller more local gathering of maybe four? I think then I am out of that one.

[Eustace]

Hello Waterboatman,

 

Ah yes, that's really none to far. I really need to work on my coping methods, but I believe I shall have to start small.

 

Indeed that is a great idea about waiting until the days extend in length, but I do also truly like the idea of Skype sessions, I even believe that you can ... multicall ... I suppose it would be called now.

 

Yes, I must admit I did not take various levels of mobility into account, and this shall definitely have to factor into the equation if this were to happen.

 

But indeed, I really like the idea of the Skype calls, I mean, what's not to like; communicating from the comfort of my own home, perhaps not having to reveal identities if one doesn't wish to, no actual physical conformities to attend to... all reasonable things to take into account. Perhaps this will be a good starting point ... that is, organised Skype calls, talks, be it between two individuals, or shared between many. I believe that you can even do it without the need for webcams, so for those like myself, who would much prefer to begin with just talking through a microphone, this should make things a little easer. Plus, with Skype, there is no need for travel. Sounds fantastic Waterboatman, brilliant idea.

 

Thank you for the reply.

 

Perhaps now we shall try and organise Skype calls between forum members?

 

Eustace.

[Waterboatman]

There is a Skype address box in the profile setup, its a matter of arranging Skype accounts. And yes I would prefer to stay just on voice as well.

Thats simple enough, by the way it was not my idea, matzoball suggested that in another thread.

[Eustace]

Waterboatman,

 

Ah I see, so should I just upload my Skype thing onto there, which should appear on my profile?

 

How do you think we should begin arranging Skype accounts?

 

Ah right, I guess I shall have to thank matzoball when the time comes.

 

Thank you,

 

Eustace.

[Waterboatman]

My Skype is setup, you will see it on my profile, it is "soggyboatman", I look a real hairy beast, the missing link almost in a webcam pic, ugh.

 

Very easy, searched for via google, found the page, installed it. Its ready to use, but will stay off unless something is arranged.

[Eustace]

Brilliant Waterboatman, or soggyboatman now.

 

I will attempt to add you as a contact, my picture is the same as it is on this website.

 

And yes, I totally agree with leaving it off until something is arranged.

 

Hopefully that is soon,

 

Eustace.

[Waterboatman]

Learn something everyday, to Skype someone go to their profile and click on the Skype address, well it works on my AppleMac.

I clicked on yours and mine, a confirmation message pops up.

[Eustace]

Hello,

 

I know a bit about Skype, I used it while abroad a year or so ago now. But apparently it's changed somewhat.

 

Eustace.

[Gold MD]

I first went to the Autism Initiatives run Number 6 One Stop Shop in Edinburgh for my diagnosis in 2007. The doctor there was quite arrogant, and they eventually just had to say I have PDD-NOS because I was not displaying many AS signs to them. So I am assuming that is like the 'B' category.

 

I had outreach support from them from 2008 up to 2014 when I ended it of my own accord. Honestly, I won't have any more involvement with them after what they did to me. They let out accommodation run by a university and I have just been duped into signing away my tenancy. Due to a court matter, I was last there in July. Then I did two stints in prison.

 

I do need support. I get lonely and I like having someone there when I feel anxious, and this is affecting me a lot of the time, sadly. But I will excuse myself from A.I. now.

 

I have major sensory issues. I rub my skin and face a lot. It is quite dirty and I do this skin rubbing incessantly. I also bite and chew my nails a lot and do similar funny habits like digging wax out of my ears. Sometimes, I hate doing these things. They are considerable obscure, yet I know it is just a comfort thing and a compulsion, so I do not beat myself up about it anymore.

[Livelife]

This post was about meeting other people with Aspergers though nobody has posted for some time. I didn't know whether to start a new threat on the same topic or continue on this one.

To avoid two threats the same I opted for posting here, I have very similar reactions to the original poster but would like to develop a friendship here who lives in the Bristol Area or close by who would be interested in meeting sometime in the future after talking for awhile here or emailing to get more comfortable before any actual meeting were to take place.

If anybody in the area would be interested in this possibility I would be pleased to hear from you.