Going to go to a meetup tomorrow for a picnic with other people, hopefully to try to be social and talk to some new people. I know this is very casual and not a big deal, but I have had really bad social anxiety basically my whole life. I don't know if this is related to the Autism, or if its because I didn't make any friends or relationships in high school or college at all and got treated like shit by nearly everyone, and I'm just scared of people in general because of that. However, I'm done with having no one to talk to, so I think this will be a good thing for me.
...still really nervous tho.
(Also I'm debating if I should disclose if I am Autistic at any point tomorrow. Never did it before with anyone else I tried to talk and make friends with but it didn't help at all. Maybe only if someone else says it?? idk maybe if there is a right moment to do it.)
Making the decision to go and hang for a little bit will be a good win. I'd recommend afterwards to reflect on how it turned out vs. how you were imagining it to be.
Also never forget...
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Just keep realistic expectations, and be kind to yourself. Take breaks if you need to. Stay aware of your energy levels, and don't be afraid to call it a night early if need be. You rarely "get over" social anxiety, but through baby steps and conditioning, you learn to make it very manageable.
Also, don't worry about disclosing your autism. Honestly, most people can pick up on the subtleties after a bit, and it also rarely matters to worthwhile people.
I've found that i'm a lot more comfortable at social gatherings if I go for a short jog a little while before. Doesn't have to be long or strenuous, but it helps burn through some stress hormones.
I'm gonna ride my bike to the spot it's at. Should be nice beforehand.
That's a great idea. Remember you can always take a few minutes in the bathroom if it gets to be a bit much.
Also, if you have high blood pressure and you don't take medicine for it, you're living your life on hard mode. It's one of the easiest and most effective ways to immediately deal with a large chunk of your anxiety. Seriously, it's huge.
You can do it!
I get where you're coming from. Hanging out with other people is usually tough for me too, but do what you can (and pace yourself) and keep a positive outlook. Something I've also been doing is keeping a diary and writing about how I feel anytime I'm placed with a situation that I might usually be uncomfortable with so that I van come back to it and think of what I could do differently in the future.
