Upcoming social event is making me really anxious

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Nicola2206
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10 Sep 2015, 12:42 pm

So I was invited to a party because this friend is graduating and she invited me. Fine, I'm in the middle of a period of isolation and I kinda just want to be left alone. I don't feel like going anywhere, to be honest. There are times when I can handle social situations a bit better, but this time I just can't. There will be no friend I really like or feel comfortable with, so this is making me panic more than I should.
This friend who invited me told me not to make any excuses (because I decline invitations a lot), so telling her "no" would disappoint her. So I said yes. Then I regret how I never seem to say the right thing.

Now I don't know what to do. I'd really like to avoid letting people down, but at the same time I can't force myself to do stuff just to make them like me or something.

I can't sleep at night because I keep thinking about how I don't want to go there.


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Fawlty
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10 Sep 2015, 1:12 pm

Just go. Show your face. This friend will appreciate it. Leave after 60 minutes if you really don't like it. And be proud of yourself that you did it.

Good luck!



winston112
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10 Sep 2015, 1:52 pm

I would never go to an event if the whole idea of it made me feel the way you feel right now. I say no to social events all the time. Some people I trust enough to tell the truth and they always understand, other people I don't trust enough so I make up some lame excuse or just don't show up. I'm sure it upsets them, but I think they should ask themselves why I'm making up lame excuses instead of just going or telling the truth. Maybe then they would realize that they aren't as supportive as they should be.



Nicola2206
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10 Sep 2015, 2:48 pm

winston112 wrote:
I would never go to an event if the whole idea of it made me feel the way you feel right now. I say no to social events all the time. Some people I trust enough to tell the truth and they always understand, other people I don't trust enough so I make up some lame excuse or just don't show up. I'm sure it upsets them, but I think they should ask themselves why I'm making up lame excuses instead of just going or telling the truth. Maybe then they would realize that they aren't as supportive as they should be.

Yeah, exactly. One of my friends almost yells at me for staying at home most of the time and getting "all isolated", and this doesn't help me but makes me feel really misunderstood. She thinks my issues get worse when I stay at home or something, she thinks "some fun" would bring benefits. The point is, no, that's not the way it works for me. I don't get my positive energy from social interactions like most NTs do, I get it from being alone minding my own business and focusing on my own interests, and having a small group of supportive friends who understand my needs and talk to me.
Also I'm never completely "isolated" as I still see and talk to my family and my girlfriend, and to a few friends or people online, on forums.
"I'm sure it upsets them, but I think they should ask themselves why I'm making up lame excuses instead of just going or telling the truth"
This is making me think and comforting me, thanks. It definitely makes me feel less guilty.

Besides, I have mental disorders like bipolar disorder and anxiety, so sometimes my mood is just hard to control. It makes stuff even more difficult as sometimes I'm unable to figure myself out, let alone other people :roll:


_________________
Your neurodiverse (Aspie) score: 173 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 32 of 200
You are very likely neurodiverse (Aspie)

AQ Score: 40


SQ: 52
EQ: 5

Empathizing - systemizing mixed test version results


winston112
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10 Sep 2015, 3:27 pm

Nicola2206 wrote:
winston112 wrote:
I would never go to an event if the whole idea of it made me feel the way you feel right now. I say no to social events all the time. Some people I trust enough to tell the truth and they always understand, other people I don't trust enough so I make up some lame excuse or just don't show up. I'm sure it upsets them, but I think they should ask themselves why I'm making up lame excuses instead of just going or telling the truth. Maybe then they would realize that they aren't as supportive as they should be.

Yeah, exactly. One of my friends almost yells at me for staying at home most of the time and getting "all isolated", and this doesn't help me but makes me feel really misunderstood. She thinks my issues get worse when I stay at home or something, she thinks "some fun" would bring benefits. The point is, no, that's not the way it works for me. I don't get my positive energy from social interactions like most NTs do, I get it from being alone minding my own business and focusing on my own interests, and having a small group of supportive friends who understand my needs and talk to me.
Also I'm never completely "isolated" as I still see and talk to my family and my girlfriend, and to a few friends or people online, on forums.
"I'm sure it upsets them, but I think they should ask themselves why I'm making up lame excuses instead of just going or telling the truth"
This is making me think and comforting me, thanks. It definitely makes me feel less guilty.

Besides, I have mental disorders like bipolar disorder and anxiety, so sometimes my mood is just hard to control. It makes stuff even more difficult as sometimes I'm unable to figure myself out, let alone other people :roll:


Yes, I think it is common for friends to think that they are helping by basically forcing us to join them at social events. For me, it simply doesn't work. If I go to a party against my will all I want is to go back home and afterwards I associate parties with anxiety even more than before. A clever and understanding friend will tell you it is okay if you stay at home, but offer to see you some other day - just the two of you - at a place where you are comfortable.



glebel
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10 Sep 2015, 3:45 pm

Fawlty wrote:
Just go. Show your face. This friend will appreciate it. Leave after 60 minutes if you really don't like it. And be proud of yourself that you did it.

Good luck!

Excellent point. If you value this person as a friend, by not showing up you may hurt their feelings and destroy a friendship. I find that showing up by yourself so that you can leave when you want to, making sure the person knows you are there, and then quietly leaving works very nicely in these situations. It never hurts to think of others before you think of yourself, and by doing this fairly often, you build up a shell to protect yourself and then you can start living a fuller life. Works for me.


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Nicola2206
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10 Sep 2015, 3:47 pm

winston112 wrote:
Nicola2206 wrote:
winston112 wrote:
I would never go to an event if the whole idea of it made me feel the way you feel right now. I say no to social events all the time. Some people I trust enough to tell the truth and they always understand, other people I don't trust enough so I make up some lame excuse or just don't show up. I'm sure it upsets them, but I think they should ask themselves why I'm making up lame excuses instead of just going or telling the truth. Maybe then they would realize that they aren't as supportive as they should be.

Yeah, exactly. One of my friends almost yells at me for staying at home most of the time and getting "all isolated", and this doesn't help me but makes me feel really misunderstood. She thinks my issues get worse when I stay at home or something, she thinks "some fun" would bring benefits. The point is, no, that's not the way it works for me. I don't get my positive energy from social interactions like most NTs do, I get it from being alone minding my own business and focusing on my own interests, and having a small group of supportive friends who understand my needs and talk to me.
Also I'm never completely "isolated" as I still see and talk to my family and my girlfriend, and to a few friends or people online, on forums.
"I'm sure it upsets them, but I think they should ask themselves why I'm making up lame excuses instead of just going or telling the truth"
This is making me think and comforting me, thanks. It definitely makes me feel less guilty.

Besides, I have mental disorders like bipolar disorder and anxiety, so sometimes my mood is just hard to control. It makes stuff even more difficult as sometimes I'm unable to figure myself out, let alone other people :roll:


Yes, I think it is common for friends to think that they are helping by basically forcing us to join them at social events. For me, it simply doesn't work. If I go to a party against my will all I want is to go back home and afterwards I associate parties with anxiety even more than before. A clever and understanding friend will tell you it is okay if you stay at home, but offer to see you some other day - just the two of you - at a place where you are comfortable.


Yeah, forcing me to join them at a social event or whatever basically produces these results:
1- It makes me dislike the person and makes me feel like they don't understand me
2- It makes me see the world as a hostile place for me and I will get hostile too
3 - It will make me decline invitations even more
4 - It will make me angry, anxious and wanting to run away from everyone


_________________
Your neurodiverse (Aspie) score: 173 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 32 of 200
You are very likely neurodiverse (Aspie)

AQ Score: 40


SQ: 52
EQ: 5

Empathizing - systemizing mixed test version results


Nicola2206
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10 Sep 2015, 3:52 pm

glebel wrote:
Fawlty wrote:
Just go. Show your face. This friend will appreciate it. Leave after 60 minutes if you really don't like it. And be proud of yourself that you did it.

Good luck!

Excellent point. If you value this person as a friend, by not showing up you may hurt their feelings and destroy a friendship. I find that showing up by yourself so that you can leave when you want to, making sure the person knows you are there, and then quietly leaving works very nicely in these situations. It never hurts to think of others before you think of yourself, and by doing this fairly often, you build up a shell to protect yourself and then you can start living a fuller life. Works for me.

I was thinking about just going to the restaurant in the evening and not go to the whole graduation thing (in a city that is 2 hours away from where I live).
Because the restaurant is in my town and I can quickly go back home....call my parents to pick me up or drive back home if they let me drive the car.


_________________
Your neurodiverse (Aspie) score: 173 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 32 of 200
You are very likely neurodiverse (Aspie)

AQ Score: 40


SQ: 52
EQ: 5

Empathizing - systemizing mixed test version results