Social skills. They can improve.....

[Tony Ramirez]

My social skills are improving greatly even with this pandemic.

A little backstory but when I grew up as a kid with Asperger's Highly functional autism I thought it was weird I could not talk to my peers with ease.

I found that actually when I hit middle school I socialize fine but my Autistic traits were in overdrive. Doing things like changing Radio and TV stations to my fictional channel 75 "old pre 1982 analog TV went past channel 69". I also really opened up even openly weeping to a girl. Also a girl I kind of liked when I got her as a secret Santa I objected openly in class wanting someone else. I was stupid that way.

When I went to high school it was a much bigger environment and it was scary. No longer did I communicate I was even bullied but they got there justice by failing out dropping out or were left back by my senior year. It was not until my senior year I opened up with my photography class I still was terrified of girls.

When I entered college I went into a real shell
It was not a big college but it had nothing interesting. Around girls I use to actually run away. One time one sat next to me and even exchange a few friendly words and I just nodded or only said okay. Even a few said hi to me and I literally ran away. I remember in my class there was this girl I liked and she was friendly. I had an opportunity to communicate with her she was sitting by herself with no partner. I wanted to partner with her but I sat there like a statue. She eventually partnered with another female student. This actually happened twice. I don't think I said two words to girls. I was also afraid to join any clubs even though I wanted too because there will be girls there. Because of my poor social skills I got bad grades and dropped out of college.

I entered various trade schools but communicating with disabled people I hated They were not nice they swearing and presented themselves sloppy.

It was not until the turn of the millennium that I found a Church and God I communicated with people even Girls. I was even working even socializing there but I eventually lost that job. I had a few as friends but as my main group the only friends I really had coupled up the group drifting apart I stopped attending Church as it was far away.

I backslided for 15 years only communicated with my family had no friends and I was afraid of girls again.

Then last year I had a scare my sister nearly died. I got severely depressed and I went and found another Church walking distance. I then attended almost every group and event and was socializing. I was still afraid of girls. I could not just go up and talk to them. It was not until I attended my Wednesday life group that I got a group of friends I now communicate with.

Then the new year comes I start to really socializing after taking an new medication Seroquel even going up to a girl starting an conversation and exchange Whatsapp messages that this antisocial pandemic hits. Everything is closed, canceled and done virtually. At first the virtual thing was cool then it became an nuisance. So thinking my social skills are reverting again I tell my life group I feel depressed. A girl from the group gets back to me and we meet at the park and talk. Then she called me the other day.

So now I communicate with her, my friend Justin the leader of life group and the pastor. Even Keith messaged me so they all tell me I got a group of friends which I do communicate almost daily by text video group meetings and sometimes phone calls. So now I am socializing more

 

[Erica Griswold]

That's great Tony!

 

[Aspychata]

My social skills are improving greatly even with this pandemic.

A little backstory but when I grew up as a kid with Asperger's Highly functional autism I thought it was weird I could not talk to my peers with ease.

I found that actually when I hit middle school I socialize fine but my Autistic traits were in overdrive. Doing things like changing Radio and TV stations to my fictional channel 75 "old pre 1982 analog TV went past channel 69". I also really opened up even openly weeping to a girl. Also a girl I kind of liked when I got her as a secret Santa I objected openly in class wanting someone else. I was stupid that way.

When I went to high school it was a much bigger environment and it was scary. No longer did I communicate I was even bullied but they got there justice by failing out dropping out or were left back by my senior year. It was not until my senior year I opened up with my photography class I still was terrified of girls.

When I entered college I went into a real shell
It was not a big college but it had nothing interesting. Around girls I use to actually run away. One time one sat next to me and even exchange a few friendly words and I just nodded or only said okay. Even a few said hi to me and I literally ran away. I remember in my class there was this girl I liked and she was friendly. I had an opportunity to communicate with her she was sitting by herself with no partner. I wanted to partner with her but I sat there like a statue. She eventually partnered with another female student. This actually happened twice. I don't think I said two words to girls. I was also afraid to join any clubs even though I wanted too because there will be girls there. Because of my poor social skills I got bad grades and dropped out of college.

I entered various trade schools but communicating with disabled people I hated They were not nice they swearing and presented themselves sloppy.

It was not until the turn of the millennium that I found a Church and God I communicated with people even Girls. I was even working even socializing there but I eventually lost that job. I had a few as friends but as my main group the only friends I really had coupled up the group drifting apart I stopped attending Church as it was far away.

I backslided for 15 years only communicated with my family had no friends and I was afraid of girls again.

Then last year I had a scare my sister nearly died. I got severely depressed and I went and found another Church walking distance. I then attended almost every group and event and was socializing. I was still afraid of girls. I could not just go up and talk to them. It was not until I attended my Wednesday life group that I got a group of friends I now communicate with.

Then the new year comes I start to really socializing after taking an new medication Seroquel even going up to a girl starting an conversation and exchange Whatsapp messages that this antisocial pandemic hits. Everything is closed, canceled and done virtually. At first the virtual thing was cool then it became an nuisance. So thinking my social skills are reverting again I tell my life group I feel depressed. A girl from the group gets back to me and we meet at the park and talk. Then she called me the other day.

So now I communicate with her, my friend Justin the leader of life group and the pastor. Even Keith messaged me so they all tell me I got a group of friends which I do communicate almost daily by text video group meetings and sometimes phone calls. So now I am socializing more

You did it. Got past the anti-social dragon holding you back. Good job. You rock, and there are many success stories here.

 

[Thinx]

Glad to hear you are socialising and getting along ok, it's been tough in the pandemic but you have friends and it sounds like you are doing well.

 

[BradT]

My social skills are improving greatly even with this pandemic.

A little backstory but when I grew up as a kid with Asperger's Highly functional autism I thought it was weird I could not talk to my peers with ease.

I found that actually when I hit middle school I socialize fine but my Autistic traits were in overdrive. Doing things like changing Radio and TV stations to my fictional channel 75 "old pre 1982 analog TV went past channel 69". I also really opened up even openly weeping to a girl. Also a girl I kind of liked when I got her as a secret Santa I objected openly in class wanting someone else. I was stupid that way.

When I went to high school it was a much bigger environment and it was scary. No longer did I communicate I was even bullied but they got there justice by failing out dropping out or were left back by my senior year. It was not until my senior year I opened up with my photography class I still was terrified of girls.

When I entered college I went into a real shell
It was not a big college but it had nothing interesting. Around girls I use to actually run away. One time one sat next to me and even exchange a few friendly words and I just nodded or only said okay. Even a few said hi to me and I literally ran away. I remember in my class there was this girl I liked and she was friendly. I had an opportunity to communicate with her she was sitting by herself with no partner. I wanted to partner with her but I sat there like a statue. She eventually partnered with another female student. This actually happened twice. I don't think I said two words to girls. I was also afraid to join any clubs even though I wanted too because there will be girls there. Because of my poor social skills I got bad grades and dropped out of college.

I entered various trade schools but communicating with disabled people I hated They were not nice they swearing and presented themselves sloppy.

It was not until the turn of the millennium that I found a Church and God I communicated with people even Girls. I was even working even socializing there but I eventually lost that job. I had a few as friends but as my main group the only friends I really had coupled up the group drifting apart I stopped attending Church as it was far away.

I backslided for 15 years only communicated with my family had no friends and I was afraid of girls again.

Then last year I had a scare my sister nearly died. I got severely depressed and I went and found another Church walking distance. I then attended almost every group and event and was socializing. I was still afraid of girls. I could not just go up and talk to them. It was not until I attended my Wednesday life group that I got a group of friends I now communicate with.

Then the new year comes I start to really socializing after taking an new medication Seroquel even going up to a girl starting an conversation and exchange Whatsapp messages that this antisocial pandemic hits. Everything is closed, canceled and done virtually. At first the virtual thing was cool then it became an nuisance. So thinking my social skills are reverting again I tell my life group I feel depressed. A girl from the group gets back to me and we meet at the park and talk. Then she called me the other day.

So now I communicate with her, my friend Justin the leader of life group and the pastor. Even Keith messaged me so they all tell me I got a group of friends which I do communicate almost daily by text video group meetings and sometimes phone calls. So now I am socializing more

I'm so happy for you, but if you want a relationship, be careful not to get friend zoned unless that's what you want.

 

[Tony Ramirez]

When I was a kid I was somewhat social actually I use to talk about my made up TV station in public and I generally accepted by Junior high.

When I became me an teenager I was really antisocial. In High School people knew who I was although most of my attention was negative. I could not even do small groups and I was afraid to talk to people. It got better by my senior year as I was able to handle field trips and photography class which was a group class even eating lunch there.

I actually got worse when in College. I literally use to run away from girls even freezing up and I was afraid to join any clubs. I even had a few try to talk to me just saying a few words then locking up.

Then I found out I had ASD after leaving College. I did various disability programs which were boring but I did not socialize.

I joined a Church in my mid 20's which later finding out it was the wrong Church. They had only one group with people around my age group and I also clinged onto the teen group as even though the cutoff age was 18 years and j was around 22 years I still looked younger than 18 years.

I got a job and friends from the Church then later blaming God I lost them all. The job was bad. The friends ended up being toxic as once they coupled up and got married they only wanted to hang out with other couples.

I then left the Church for 15 years went back into my antisocial and then only went out for appointments.

Then last year after my sister nearly died I came back to the Church this time finding the right one the first time. I became so social that I immediately joined four groups later settled on two groups. Within two weeks I was greeted all the time.

I ended up making friends with couples and single people including girls which I have a closer relationship with two that we talk on the phone. I was worried with the pandemic and our Church not being officially open for gatherings that I was going to lose everything again but I actually got closer to people and I even meet some new people from virtual groups that later on we are now meeting in person.

So with all my phobias and anxiety I was able to get this far. How far have you gone?