I'm socially awkward, as my name dictates, and find group chats stressful. I had to leave my NCT chat after DC's birth.
Useful background info is that I'm autistic, but also emetophobic. My fear of illness and vomiting can take over my life and I have to work really hard to not let it.
I'm in a parents WhatsApp group for my other DC's Year R class, which I find useful to discuss homework etc. But I can't cope with the illness chat, particularly when it comes to sickness bugs. Today they're all posting about their kids dropping like flies and I'm barely holding it together worrying about my DC succumbing too.
I have come out of the chat and not looked at it since this morning but it's already sparked severe anxiety.
Going forward I need to protect myself from things like this because I'm very aware of my own weak points and what can and can't be changed about myself. Emetophobia isn't going anywhere. Two HG pregnancies didn't even help it.
People have a right to talk about what's going on with their kids in these chats, it's literally me that's the problem here. AIBU to leave, quietly? I'm worried it might make me look bad.