Newly diagnosed and being neurodiverse can be extremely lonely

[90redbaloons]

I was diagnosed pretty late in life-late 30's, for years and years GP's passed things off as anxiety or depression, but deep down I always knew that there was something else because I never responded to antidepressants or anything like that.

Anyway that sense of loneliness has always been there. My whole life I have attracted abusive and just plain horrible people or else had one sided friendships and relationships. I've done the usual things like joining groups and trying a variety of different avenues to meet people, only to run into cliques or being snubbed by people if they sense I am different. All of this has taken its toll on my self esteem. It makes it harder when you hear professionals speaking about a support network which is difficult when most people can't even stand being around me and I just feel even more like it's all my fault and I feel like a further failure.

Can anyone else relate to these feelings?

Have you tried any groups specifically for ND people?

I’m at the point now where I know if I don’t try something I’ll probably never have much in the way of friendships. This does make me feel sad. I too have had one-sided friendships and have been left with such low self esteem because of it. I think people find me very quiet as I struggle so much to keep a conversation going, hence they find someone else chattier to talk with.

I sometimes take myself off for a walk or for a coffee and a cake sometimes, sort of taking care of myself. I’ve never quite been able to join a club but perhaps this might be a possibility as suggested by the previous poster.

Where are these clubs? I’ve Googled for a 20mile radius of my area… nothing.

I think it's the luck of the draw on where you live.
There are 2 near me. One within walking distance.

We do have one six miles away but it’s for tinies and teens. Gaming and toys etc.

Maybe if those who are comfortable with it posted a rough idea of where they are in the country we could form support groups of our own? I'm in South Yorkshire, close to the border with Derbyshire, not diagnosed as yet but on the waiting list.

In near Blackpool

South Cheshire here 😊

West Midlands here

Oxford here

We’re a far flung bunch aren’t we?

Quick reminder for Cheshire here 😊