Advice needed for 21 yr old on how to make friends.

[ladygin]

My lovely DD aged 21 has never found it easy to make friends since secondary school, then uni and now post grad. And she is frustrated and sad that she can’t. I have given her my thoughts but not having much sucesss.

She is a bit ‘other’ in a way I can’t really explain. And has dyspraxia, her verbal communication skills are a bit difficult in that she is a not a natural, easy breazy talker.

So what tips and advice would you have on how to make friends. What do successful friends makers do that take strangers to friends?

She is a university doing a masters, is a member of a few society’s, is in halls with younger students and does not have any friends at home either.

All help and ideas welcome xxxx

She needs to have a think about what she is interested in. Choirs ,book groups can be helpful or sports activities, park runs seem to be very social.

Might not be her thing at all but I recently joined a Pokemon GO group who meet in a local park every weekend and sometimes in the week for various challenges. Lots of 'other' type people there, myself included. No pressure to talk, you can get as involved and friendly with people as you like, or just hover on the periphery if you'd prefer.

@Bingbangboo she loves pokemon go. I will tell her to see if they have one.

@madaboutpurpleyep I agree. But it’s more that she doesn’t know what to say or how to be to start the friendship or keep it going

at age 21 and longstanding difficulties making / maintaining friendships - I would organise therapy - interpersonal psychotherapy- to help her understand the difficulties she has, until she understands what isn’t working for her, suggestions may be inappropriate-
e.g. she goes to clubs and societies or whatever and the same pattern repeats … and she still feels bad / worse -

If she downloads Campfire she can see and join local groups. Hopefully there will be one run by a Community Ambassador somewhere close.